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CLOUD OF
MTNESSES

PRINTED BV m'faRLANE AND ERSKINE
FOR

OLIPHANT, ANDERSON, & FERRIER.

ON HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO.

1 HE CaNONGATE ToLBOOTH, EoiXBURliU.

Cloud of Witnesses

FOR THE

ROYAL PREROGATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST;

BEING

THE LAST SPEECHES AND TESTIMONIES

OF THOSK

imO HAVE SUFFERED FOR THE TRUTH IN SCOTLAND,
SINCE THE YEAR 1680.

Reprintedffom the Oriental Editions, with Explanatory and Historical Notes

BY THK.

REV. JOHN H. THOMSON.

EDLNBURGH AND LONDON:
OLIPHANT, ANDERSON & FERRIER.

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1* niKn'bm/kuitfi^jfrc' mJfeGS

CLOUD

O F

WITNESSES.

r 0 R THE

ROYAL PREROGATIVES

O F

JESUS CHRIST.

The Laft SPBBCHES and TESTIMONIES

of thofe who have lufFered for the TRUTH,
in SCQTLSND^ fincetheYeari68o.

Together whb

An APPENDIX contain) hg the QueenVFerry Paper, Tor-
wood Excomrnunication, a £ ELAJJON concemiv^ A4r^ R. Ca-
meron, Mr, D. Cargil anA H- Hill ^ anii an- Account cj iho(e ta^a
xvere Killed tvuh out FRO CESS of Law, and bam/bed io For*
reign Lands: With a/bcn Fna? of fame of the OppreHlve EKa^ions,

p.cy. 7- >^- T^'f' "" ""> "'"''' '■""' '"'' 'f A'"* Ttibultttin, tuti, have u^^U thtb
RoU', tnd mfic Ihtm ahtm in tlit Blicd af iha Lamb.

Cjpr €f<a. f, Eraianieiu Ppeiibus pMirum candid* EccleCi ; ntme fifti cftiDCmorc
M»nynjtn pnrpoiea : IPloubm cmi ntc Rof* d<fuo(. <i«c LiUi.

Printed in the Year M.DCCX1V.

Fac- simile Title oj tlie First Edition.

2031755

CONTENTS.

THE INTRODUCTION,

PAGE

THE PREFACE TO THE READER,

AN ENCOMIUM ON THE MARTYRS,

ALISON, ARCHIBALD, .

. His Testimony,

ALISON, ISABEL, . . .

. Her Interrogations,

117

»» ...

. Her Testimony,

126

BOIG, Mr JAMES, . . .

. His Testimony,

BRYCE, MATTHEW, . .

. A Relation concerning him.

446

CARGILL, Mr DONALD,

Last Speech and Testimony,

. Letter to Mr James Skene,

»»

Letter to some friends,

CLARK, ANDREW, .
COCHRAN, JOHN, . .
COCHRAN, WILLIAM,
CUTHILL, WILLIAM,

DICK, Mr JOHN, . .

FARRIE, DAVID, . .
FINLAY, JOHN, . . .

FORMAN, PATRICK, .

Letter to John Malcolm and

Archibald Alison,
Letter to the Prisoners in the

Correction House,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,

A Relation concerning him.

His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,

xlii

19
404
279
269
181

400

208
260

2<X)

Contefits.

GAKNOCK, ROBERT
GILRY, JOHN, . .
GOUGER, WILLIAM,
GRAHAM, JAMES, .
GRAY, ROBERT, .

GUILLINE, ANDREW,
HACKSTON, DAVID,

HARKNESS, THOMAS
HARVIE, MARION,

HAY, LAWRENCE,

JACKSON, GEORGE,
JOHNSTON, JAMES,

KEAGOW, WILLIAM,

LAUCHLANE, MARGARET
LAWSON, JAMES, . .

MAIN, JOHN, . . .
MALCOLM, JOHN, . .
MARSHALL, EDWARD,
MARTIN, GEORGE, .
MILLER, CHRISTOPHER,
MILLER, ROBERT,
M'EWEN, SAMUEL, .

His Testimony,

A Relation concerning liim,

His Testimony,

His Interrogations,

His Testimony,

His Testimony,
Letter to his Christian Friend X
Letter to a Gentlewoman,
Another Letter to his Christ

Friend N., .
Letter to his Sister,
His Testimony,
Her Interrogations,
Her Testimony,
His Testimony,

His Testimony,

A Relation concerning him,

, A Relation conceniing her.
His Testimony,

His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
Letter to a Friend,

NICOL, JAMES, His Testimony,

NISBET, JAMES, .... His Testimony,

NISBET, JOHN (the younger). His InteiTOgations,

,, His Testimony,

NISBET, JOHN, A Relation concerning him

194
326

147
422
227
229
275

39
43
52

404

>35
139
160

410

337

414

440
406

329
68

447
321
147
429
404
405

388

365
290
291

455

Contents.

NISBET, JOHN, His Testimony,

PATON, CAPTAIN JOHN
PITILLOCH, ANDREW,
POLLOCK, ROBERT, .
POTTER, JOHN, . .

RENWICK, Mr JAMES,

RICHMOND, JOHN, .
ROBERTSON, JAMES,

ROBERTSON, THOMAS,
RUSSELL, ALEXANDER,

SANGSTER, ROBERT, .
SEMPLE, JOHN, . . .

SKENE, JAMES, ....

SMITH, JAMES,

SMITH, Mr WALTER, .
STEWART, ARCHIBALD,

STODART, THOMAS,
STUART, JAMES, . .

TACKET, ARTHUR, .
THOMSON, WILLIAM,

WATT, JOHN, . .
WHARRY, JOHN, .

His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,

His Testimony,
A Letter to his Christian Friend
His Last Words upon the Scaf-
fold,
His Testimony,
His Interrogations,
His Testimony,
His Testimony,
A Relation concerning him.

His Testimony,

A Relation concerning him,

Letter to his Mother and Sister

His Interrogations,

Letter to Professors in the shire

of Aberdeen,
Letter to his Friend N.,
Another Letter to his Friend N
His Testimony,
A Letter to his Father an

Mother,
His Testimony and Last Words.
His Testimony,
A Letter to his Christian Ac

quaintance, .
His Testimony,
His Testimony,

His Testimony,
His Testimony,

A Relation concerning him,
A Letter to his Mother, Brother,
and Sisters, .

PAGE

458

359
166

425
107

483
, 488

339
240
241

383
224

147
419
419

86
90

91
92

286

100

348
443
216

376

173

419
283

Contents.

WILKIE, JAMES, . .
WU.SON, JOHN, . .

WILSON, MARGARET,
WINNING, JAMES,
WOOD, ALEXANDER,

A Relation concerning him,
His Answers before the Council,
His Testimony,
A Relation concerning her,
A Relation concerning him.
His Testimony,

PAGE
446

3"
440

337
406

THE APPENDIX—

A Relation concerning Mr Richard Cameron,

The Bond of Mutual Defence found at Airsmoss,

A Relation concerning Mr Donald Cargill,

The Torvvood Excommunication, .

A Relation concerni;ig Mr Henry Hall,

Abstract of the Queensferry Paper,

A List of the Banished,

A List of those killed in the Fields,

A Short Account of the Oppressive Exactions,

Epitaphs or Inscriptions,

495
500
501
507
511
513
518

532
557
562

ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE CANONGATE TOLBOOTH,

Fac-Simile Frontispiece of First Edition.
Fa€-Si}nile Title of First Edition.

THE GREYFRIARS CHURCH, EDINBURGH,
THE HIGH CHURCH OF GLASGOW — east View,

,, ,, west view,

CANONGATE TOLBOOTH — from the east,

THE CROSS, EDINBURGH,

UTRECHT, ....

QUEENSFERRY,

THE TOLBOOTH, EDINBURGH — SOUth front,

BOTHWELL BRIDGE,

THE HIGH CHURCH OF GLASGOW — SOUth vieW,

THE TOLBOOTH, EDINBURGH,

NETHERBOW PORT, EDINBURGH,

THE GRASSMARKET, EDINBURGH,

THE HIGH CHURCH, EDINBURGH,

OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE, EDINBURGH,

TORWOOD CASTLE,

RICHARD Cameron's birthplace,

THE TOLBOOTH, GLASGOW,
martyrs' MONUMENT, EDINBURGH,
MONUMENT AT AIRSMOSS,

Frontispiece

ioface page I

5
i6

• 32

• 36
40

. 48
to face page 6 5
129

193

257
321

385
449

• 495
to face pages'^ 2)

• 563

• 572

Vlll

Illustrations.

FENWICK CHURCHYARD,

MONUMENT TO THE WIGTOWN MARTYRS AT STIRLING,

RULLION GREEN, PENTLAND HILLS,

MONUMENT AT RULLION GREEN,

CHURCHYARD, ST ANDREWS,

DUNOTTAR CASTLE, ....

MONUMENT TO THE WIGTOWN MARTYRS AT WKITOWN,

BLACKADEr's TOMBSTONE AT NORTH BERWICK,

PAGE

597
597
602
603
606
612

HE " Cloud of Witnesses," an edition of which we
now present to the reader in a new and handsome
setting, was originally published as a small quarto
volume of 290 pages. Its title page, of which we give
a fac-simile, contains the name neither of printer
publisher, nor of compilers, but simply the year in
which it was printed, viz., 1714. Considering the
rude state of the art of printing in Scotland at that
time, after the tyranny and oppression under which the land had
groaned for so many years, when much of Scottish literature had
to be printed in Holland, and was secretly brought over and cir-
culated in the country, it may be considered a very creditable
specimen of typography ; the title page being printed in two colours
with a considerable amount of taste. There are, however, a goodly
number of typographical errors in the text, which the compilers
apologise for, at the close of the volume, in the following quaintly
courteous sentence :- — " Good Reader, — There being several mis-
takes of the press in this impression, too many to bear any reason-
able apology ; it is hoped thy candour and ingenuity will pardon

A Cloud of Wi blesses.

the smaller, and thy pen amend the greater, which may mar or aher
the sense : a list whereof follows."

The frontispiece, of which a fac-simile is also given, shows, in a
still more remarkable degree, the low condition of the engraver's art
in Scotland at that period, although in the next generation the future
Sir Robert Strange learned in Edinburgh, under a Mr Cooper, the
rudiments of an art, in which he was yet to rank among its greatest
masters. But rude as it is, it has a power approaching to the sen-
sational, and, no doubt, would lead many to read the book itself.

The second edition is said to have been published in 1725, but,
while the first edition is not uncommon, this is one of the rarest of
books. It is not in any of the public libraries, and even the recent
discussions on the authenticity of the story of the Wigtown martyrs
have not been successful in bringing a copy to public view. The
third edition is an i8mo of 388 pages, and was published in 1730.
It contains several additions to the matter of the first, such as the
inscription on the grave of Margaret Wilson at Wigtown. The
fourth edition was published in Glasgow in 1741, and is a i2mo of
408 pages. It gives for the first time the Testimonies of John Nisbet
younger, John Nisbet of Hardhill, Robert Millar, Thomas Harkness,
the letters of John Semple and Archibald Stewart, and the epitaph
at RuUion Green. The fifth edition was published in Glasgow in
1 75 1, and is one of the most correct as well as the most beautifully
printed of the early editions. It adds to the matter of former
editions the testimony of John Finlay. Edition after edition followed
the fifth in quick succession : the eighth edition was printed at
Edinburgh in 1765; the tenth at Aberdeen in 1778; and in the
same year (evidently in ignorance of the one issued from the banks
of the Dee), another tenth edition was published at Glasgow. " A
new edition" was printed in London in 1794, a fifteenth edition
in Glasgow in 1814, and it has been given to the world in many
different forms since.

So early as 1686, the Societies entertained the design of collecting
and publishing the testimonies of the martyrs. In a letter (found in
substance in the " Faithful Contendings," but here given verbatim
from the original autograph) to Sir Robert Hamilton, dated March
7th, 1688, Michael Shields, writing in their name, says —

" It hath been our design and desire more than two years by-gone
to collect an account of the sufferings of this poor despised remnant,
with what the rest of the land have suffered, under the domineering

Introduction. xi

tyranny of the late deceased tyrant, and of the present usurper, to the

end the same might be printed and pubhshed This we

think a part of our generation work, and a duty laid upon us, as wc
would desire to have the cause of Christ, which we own and suffer
for, handed down and transmitted to our posterity, and not be guilty
of robliing them of such a rich treasure as the fragrant and refreshing
account of the sufferings of the martyrs, witnesses, and confessors of
Christ in this age is, and will be to those who come after us."

Through a difference of opinion that arose between the Societies
and the person who was to edit this proposed collection of the testi-
monies of the martyrs, the publication did not take place, and it was
not until some ten years after the Revolution that the proposal was
again entertained.

The minutes, in manuscript, of the meetings of the General
Societies, still in possession of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod,
detail the steps taken for the publication of the " Cloud," as well
as for the erection of stones over the graves of the martyrs. These
minutes are —

"Conclusions of the General Meeting at Cravvfordjohn, April 21, 1697.

" That a true and exact account of all the persecutors within the several
quarters ; of the remarkable judgments and deaths, or what hath befallen to their
families or estates ; be made up and brought to the next general meeting.

"Crawfordjohn, ^/r// 5, 1699.
" That all the respective Societies send an index of all the late martyrs' testi-
monies, not in ' Naphtali, ' to the next general meeting.

"Crawfordjohn, Oct. 29, 1 701.

" First concluded, that all the correspondences provide and make ready stones
as signs of honour to be set upon the graves of our late martyrs as soon as possible ;
and all the names of the foresaid martyrs, with their speeches and testimonies, and
by whom they were martyred or killed in house or fields, country or city, as far
as possible to be brought to the next general meeting, in order for the epitaphs ;
and likewise an account of those martyrs' carriage and behaviour in the time of
their martyrdom.

" Secondly concluded, a review of the former conclusions concerning the
remarkable judgments of the persecutors, and the diligence of the correspondences
and Societies to be diligently brought to the next general meeting.

"Crawfordjohn, Oct. 21, 1710.
" That an index of all the martyrs' testimonies that are not in ' Naphtali,' who
were martyred in Scotland, be had from all quarters against the next general

xii A Cloud of Witnesses.

meeting; likewise an account of all the martyrs' names, that suffered in this
kingdom.

" Crawfordjohn, rebruary 21, 1711.
" The martyrs' testimonies were given into Mr Alexander Marshall and Hugh
Clark their hands, to lie by them compared, and the correctest transcribed for the
general meeting, and the copies to be returned to the several correspondences
from whom they were collected, and the said persons were appointed to go to the
[Rev.] Mr Linning [of Lesmahagow], and require a sight of the testimonies that
he had from Mr Alexander Sliields, Ijclonging to the general meeting, and their
diligence to be returned to the ne.xt general meeting.

"Crawfordjohn, Oct. 6, 1711.
"The several correspondences were appointed to take a copy of the epitaphs
engraven upon the martyrs' gravestones in their several bounds, to be brought to
the next General meeting, and that they be inquisitive what account can be had
of any remarkable instances of God's judgments upon persecutors in their several
bounds, and to have an account as well warranted as can be.

"Crawfordjohn, June , 1713.
" It is enjoined to the several correspondences to be careful to see what money
may be advanced for printing the martyrs' testimonies, and an account, to be
Ijrought from each, of the quota.s they think they can advance.

"Crawfordjohn, Oct. 26, 1713.
"The several correspondences are appointed to take care to get a true list of
the martyrs who were shot or otherwise killed without process of law, their names,
abodes, time and place of their deaths, who killed them, and any other particulars
about them, with a true duplicate of the elegies on all the gravestones, against the
1st of January, to be sent to Edinburgh."

These extracts show that the Societies liad been engaged in
gathering the materials of the " Cloud of Witnesses " from at least
1697. Part of their first design, to notice wliat had befallen the per-
secutors, they seem to have laid aside, and to have been satisfied with
the account given by Alexander Shields in his " Short Memorial of
Grievances."

Alexander Marshall and Hugh Clark, to whom tlie Testiinonies
were to be given in, were prominent meml)ers of the Societies.
Thirty years after the publication of the " Cloud," Alexander Mar-
shall was licensed as a probationer by the Reformed Presbytery, and
was soon afterwards ordained. He was the first probationer licensed
by the Presbytery after its constitution in 1743. We are inclined to
attribute the drawing up of the Appendix to him. Hugh Clark acted
as clerk to the general meetings of the Societies in 17 14. After his

Introduction. xiii

death there was pubHshed a poem of thirty-two pages, entitled, "Medi-
tations upon the love of Christ, in the redemption of elect sinners,
written by the truly worthy, learned, and eminently religious Mr
Hugh Clark, sometime before his death, which was on the 15th day
of February 1724, and of his age the 36th year." Some of its lines
are not without merit, and point him out to be the author of the
"Encomium" following the Preface to the Reader in this volume,
and possibly to have been concerned in writing the latter part of the
Preface, and, it may be, some of the epitaphs on the gravestones
of the martyrs. A paragraph taken at random from the " Medi-
tations " will sufticiently show his powers :

"O saints who share His love, in Him be glad,
Who loved you, ere you a being had !
Why should you doubt His love to you, because
You cannot in yourself perceive the cause ?
Tvvas not your worth of goodness could deserve
That He at first from death should you preservCj
Nor will your worthlessness, nor vileness make,
Your loving Lord your souls again forsake.
It was the goodness of His sovereign will
Engaged him first, and will engage Him still,
And since He loved you from eternity,
Believe He '11 do the same eternally.
Lay by your doubtings, then, ye saints, and raise
Melodious songs to your Redeemer's praise."

Inanotetohis " Vindiciae Magistratus," Edinburgh, 1773, p. 152,
the Rev. John Thorburn, minister of the Reformed Presbyterian
congregation of Pentland from 1762 to 1788, says that "the Testi-
monies were given to Messrs Marshall and Clark, to be copied out
fair for the press, and to be sent to John M'Main, A.M., teacher of
a grammar school at Liberton's Wyndfoot, Edinburgh, who, it is very
probable, was the writer of the Preface ; or, at least, it behoved to be
the work of one or other of these three."

John M'Main, by the freedom of some strictures he had made upon
the ministers of the Established Church, so provoked the Presbytery
of Edinburgh, that they summoned him to appear before them,
29th November 1721, to answer for presuming at his own hand to
keep a school within the city of Edinburgh, without license or warrant
given him from any in authority. M'Main published his answer to
the summons, in which, as might be expected, he has the better of
the Presbytery. In 1724 he published Alexander Shields' life of

xiv A Cloud of Witnesses.

James Renwick. In the preface he takes Wodrow to task for his
not very favourable reflections on some of the martyrs whose
testimonies are given in the " Cloud." In both the answer to the
Presbytery and the preface to Renwick's life, there seem evident
traces of the vigorous pen that wrote the Preface to the " Cloud,"
and it goes far to justify the probability of the opinion, that, to a large
extent, it was his production. But, whoever drew it up, it is a
comprehensive and masterly statement of the lawful and Scriptural
character of the contendings of the martyrs, and is written with a
calmness, an earnestness, and catholicity of tone, and a power of
expression, that reflect the highest credit upon its authors.

The Preface makes it unnecessary that the aim of the " Cloud
of Witnesses " should be here stated. It may be enough to say
that the position taken up in these testimonies towards the govern-
ment of the time, which has often been much excepted to, was
simply an anticipation, by some years, of what the estates of the
kingdom of Scotland at their meeting in the spring of 1689 found
and declared, — " That king James the seventh being a professed
Papist, did assume the regal power and acted as king without
ever taking the oath required by law, and hath by the advice of
evil and wicked counsellors invaded the fundamental constitution of
the kingdom, and altered it from a legal limited monarchy to an
arbitrary despotic power, and hath exercised the same, to the sub-
version of the Protestant religion and the violation of the laws and
liberties of the kingdom, inverting all the ends of government, where-
by he hath forfeited the right to the crown, and the throne is become
vacant ;" while the testimonies themselves were the voice of liberty,
at a time when freedom was denied to the press, when the right of
meeting in public was taken away, and when to utter an opinion
different from the government was enough to expose to torture and
death in its most cruel form. Hence the occasional sternness of the
language in which they are clothed. The enemies of Hberty com-
pelled the martyrs to cast aside honeyed words, and to express
themselves in strong terms.

This edition has been reprinted from the first. Great pains
have been taken to ensure correctness. When difiiculty has arisen,
the fourth and fifth editions, which seem to have been printed with
unusual care, have been referred to. No change, save in the spell-
ing and manifest misprints, has been made in the text. Scotch or
unusual words have been retained, and their signification given

Introduction. xv

within brackets. Notes — historical, where such were required to
elucidate the text ; or biographical, when they could lend additional
interest to the lives under review — have been added, wherever there
seemed occasion for them. In some cases, these notes have been
derived from the traditions of the localities where the martyrs lived
or suffered; but mainly they have been drawn from the pamphlets of
the period, and the writings of the Rev. Robert Wodrow, and Patrick
Walker.

^^'odrow was minister of Eastwood, in Renfi-ewshire, and died
in 1734, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and thirty-first of his
ministry. The first volume of his " History of the Sufferings of
the Church of Scotland from 1660 to 1688" appeared in 1721,
and the second in the following year. Its materials had been
sent to him from all parts of the country, and he had been em-
ployed for about eight years in their arrangement. The book was
folio, and the subscription price two guineas, yet there were 650
subscribers. Although it has no graces of style, it was immediately
successful, and by almost all parties was felt to be a great work.
The Jacobites smarted under its statement of the tyranny and cruelty
of their idols, and did their utmost to depreciate its value, but their
labours were in vain. Its voluminous collection of facts illustrative
of the sufferings of the Presbyterians under Charles II. and James II.
might be parodied, but their truth could not be denied. A very
different class from the Jacobites found fault with the " History." The
Societies — the compilers of the "Cloud of Witnesses" — took exception
to the manner in which he spoke of James Renwick and others for
declining to take advantage of the Indulgence, or to associate with
the indulged ministers. But they did not challenge its statements of
facts. It was simply the historian's inferences or reflections that they
called in question. Wodrow's father had accepted the Indulgence,
and many of his friends were in the same position. These friend-
ships manifestly biassed the historian's judgment.

Patrick Walker was a prisoner in Dunottar for some months, and
when brought to Leith for further trial, made his escape from the
Tolbooth. He took a prominent part in the Societies at the Revolu-
tion on their presenting a statement of grievances to the government,
but he soon afterwards withdrew from their association. When he
published his " Some Remarkable Passages of the Life and Death of
Mr John Semple, Mr John Welwood, Mr Richard Cameron, Mr
Alexander Peden, Mr Donald Cargill, and Mr Walter Smith," in 1727

xvi A Cloud of Witnesses.

and 1728, he seems to have been a chapman, and to have had a house
in Edinburgh " within Bristo Port, opposite the Society gate." His
" Passages " are a curious farrago of matter ; but it is not difficult to
l^ick out what must really have happened under his own eye, or that
of trustworthy witnesses ; and these narratives are often of interest
and value as corroborative of the "Cloud of Witnesses" and Wodrow.

Of the martyrs' graves w4iose inscriptions are given in the Ap-
pendix, we have visited the greater number, and have been able to
add to those contained in the first edition a goodly number of
others, scattered about in various parts of the country. Of the
original forty-six there is only one, that of Andrew M'Gill at the
Gallows of Ayr, which we have been unable at this date to find. In
visiting these graves it is impossible not to feel how much their
present condition is due to a man whom the creative genius of Sir
Walter Scott has immortalised — Robert Paterson, " Old Mortality."
All over the south-west of Scotland his work is seen in the deeply
graven letters, cut evidently by no hireling hand, but by a workman
determined, that, so far as deep lettering would perpetuate the
names of the witnesses for Christ's Crown and Covenant, until a
generation should arise that would reverence their memory, it
should be done by him. And he has succeeded. The indifterence
characteristic of the end of last century, and the beginning of this, to
the memory of the martyrs in Scotland has passed away.

Of all the martyrs' monuments or gravestones that we have visited,
we have not found one (with the single exception of that at Magus
Moor) but what is in excellent preservation, or in the course of being
restored, or a new stone being placed alongside of that which had
become illegible by age. On inquiry we have always learned that the
inhabitants of the districts where they are, irrespective of denomina-
tion, have vied with each other to keep them in proper repair. The
graves themselves seem, with few exceptions, to have been undis-
turbed, and they may be often detected by their being considerably
lower than the surrounding ground, which has risen up by many in-
terments since. This is nowhere more strikingly seen than in the
Greyfriars Chiu-chyard in Edinburgh.

JOHN HENDERSON THOMSON.

Eaglesham, September 1871.

HRISTIAN READER, the glorious frame and contriv-
ance of religion, revealed by the ever-blessed Jehovah
in the face or person of Jesus Christ, for the recovery
of lost mankind into a state of favour and reconcile-
ment with Himself, is so excellently ordered in the
counsels of Infinite Wisdom, and exactly adjusted to
the real delight, contentment, and happiness of the
rational world ; that it might justly be wondered why
so many men in all ages, otherwise of good intellectuals, have not
only had a secret disgust thereat themselves, but laboured to rob
others of the comfort and benefit of it, and make the world a chaos
of confusion by persecutions raised against it ; had not the Holy
Spirit in the Scriptures laid open the hidden springs of this malice
and enmity, which exerts itself in so many of the children of men.

^Ve are told in these Divinely inspired writings, that the first
source of this opposition that the true religion meets with in the world,
flows originally from Satan, that inveterate enemy of God's glory and
man's hai)piness; who, having himself left his original state of obedience
to, and enjoyment of God his creator, hath no other leiiamen of his
mevitable miseries, but to draw the race of mankind into the like

xviii Preface to the Reader.

ruin, which is the only satisfaction that mahcious spirit is capable of.
This restless adversary ])erceiving that, through the grace and love
of God manifested in Christ, a great number of these whom he
thought he had secured to his slavery are redeemed, and called by
the Gospel out of that intolerable servitude into a glorious liberty,
xnd secured by faith to salvation, labours, by two great engines,
open force and secret fraud, to keep them in, or regain them to his
obedience ; hence the sacred Scriptures describe him — both as a
dragon for cruelty and a serpent for subtilty.

But because he either cannot, or thinks not fit, to do this visibly
in person ; therefore he does it more invisibly, and so more success-
fully, by his agents in whom he works, who, because of their un-
reasonable unbelief, are called children of impersuasion. These he
acts and animates, as it were so many machines, to endeavour by
crafty seduction, or violent persecution, to draw or drive the followers
of the Lamb from their subjection, obedience, and loyalty to the
Captain of their salvation, that he may drown them in perdition and
destruction. This is the latent origin of all persecution, the mint
where all the other more visible causes of the bloody violence which
the people of God meet withal, are struck and framed. This is the
grand design to which they tend — to root out the obedience of faith
out of the world, and deprive the Son of God of His rightful domi-
nion over His subjects, whom He hath chosen, redeemed, and
sanctified for Himself.

As this holds true of all the persecutions raised against the
Church and truths of God, whether in the persons of the Jews or
Christians, by whatever hands, Pagan or Anti-Christian, so it is
eminently verified of the persecutions of the Church of Scotland,
prosecuted by a profane, wicked generation of malignant Prelatists,
during the reigns of the late King Charles H. and James VH.
For, as the other persecutions were all levelled against some point of
truth or other wherein the obedience of faith was concerned, re-
specting either the existence and worship of the true God, or the
person, natures, or offices of Jesus Christ, etc. ; so this persecution
was directly bended against that office and authority of Jesus Christ,
whereupon His formal claim to the obedience of His Church is
founded, viz.. His headship over His Church. This was the peculiar
depositum concredited to the Church of Christ in Scotland, and her
distinguishing dignity, to have the royal supremacy of the King of
Zion to defend against the kings of the earth ; who, not content with

Preface to the Reader. xix

tne princely authority of ruling the persons of their subjects, according
to the laws of God and the realm, would needs usurp a blasphemous
sacrilegious prerogative of ruling the Church and consciences of men
in room of the Mediator, by what laws and statutes they pleased, and
found most subservient to their lust, for advancement of Popery and
arbitrary government.

]ESUS CHRIST, the only begotten of the Father, having re-
ceived the Church of Scotland, as one of the utmost isles of
the earth, for His possession, by solemn grant from Jehovah,
was pleased, as to call her from the deplorable state of Pagan, and
reform her from the ruinous condition of anti-Christian darkness, so
to dignify her, in a peculiar manner, to contend and suffer for that
truth, " that He is a King and Lawgiver to His Church ; " having
power to institute her form of government, to give her laws, officers,
and censures, whereby she should be governed ; and hath not left it
ambulatory and uncertain, what government He will have in force
for the ordering of His house, but hath expressly determined in His
Word every necessary part thereof, and hath not put any power into
the hands of any mortal, whether Pope, Prelate, prince, or potentate,
as a vicarious head in His personal absence, whereby they may alter
the form of government at their pleasure, and make what kind of
officers, canons, and censures they please ; but all the power that this
King hath left in His Church, concerning her government, is purely
and properly ministerial, under the direction and regulation of His
sovereign pleasure, revealed in His written Word.

This, this is the most radiant pearl in the Church of Scotland's
garland ; that she hath been honoured valiantly to stand up for the
headship and royal prerogative of her King and Husband, Jesus
Christ, in all the periods of her Reformation. For no sooner had
^he thrown off the yoke of the Pope's pretended jurisdiction and
authority, but presently, while she was labouring, by means of these
censures which Christ had instituted, to root out the damnable
heresies which that enemy had sown, all on a sudden King James VI.,
naturally ambitious, and instigated by interested and projecting coun-
sellors, attempts a rape upon her chastity and loyalty to her Hu.sband
and Lord, and by his royal order stops her freedom of sitting, voting,
and acting in her Supreme Courts, imprisons some of her most
zealous and faithful ministers, calls them before his Council, indicts
them of treason and lese majesty for their making use of the freedom

XX Preface to the Reader.

Christ had given them, and, after their declining his and his Council's
usurped authority in spiritual matters, and so witnessing a good con-
fession for the royal dignity of their Master, banishes them their
native country \ See " Calderwood's History," from page 491, to page
536, and downward. [Wodrow Society Edition, vol. vi., p. 590.]
Upon the same bottom of a pretended royal jurisdiction over the
Church, he attempted, and in a great measure effected, the establish-
ment of a Popish hierarchy and Romish ceremonies, by setting up
Prelates, and bringing in the Perth articles, flattering some, and over-
awing others of the ministry into a compliance therewith, persecuting
the zealous and faithful contenders for Christ's headship, and the
government of His Divine institution, with vexatious prosecutions
before High Commission Courts, suspensions from their office,
wanderings, confinements, etc.

And in like manner, Charles I., following his father's example
and instructions, endeavoured, upon pretence of the same preroga-
tive, to improve upon what his father had begun, and complete the
Church's slavery, by obtruding upon her a liturgy and canons, formed
a la mode d' Angleterre, collected out of the Romish mass-book and
canon law, which put the faithful sons of the Church of Scotland to
much wrestling and contending, partly by humble and submissive, yet
zealous and faithful addresses, supplications, remonstrances, and re-
presentations, partly by more bold and daring protestations and
associations for mutual defence, even till they were forced to take
arms for defence of religion and the liberties of their country.
Which contendings for Christ's royal authority, and His Church's
liberties, at length, by the blessing of God, issued in a glorious Work
of Reformation through Britain and Ireland, wherein the Churches
of Christ in these lands not only revived their former beautiful
order, shining purity, and precious liberty, but also had several de-
grees of new attainments in purity and uniformity of religion added
thereto.

But the Church's sun of prosperity is soon at the tropic. Scarce
was that spring-time well begim to blossom and bud, when, behold, a
world of malignant vapours, arising out of the earth, clouded all her
sky again, and turned her spring to a deplorable winter. Various
heresies in England, growing Popery in Ireland, public resolutions
for advancing malignants to places of power and trust in Scotland,
like so many inundations breaking in upon the Church of Christ, laid
all her pleasant things waste. And no sooner was Charles II.

Preface to the Reader. xxi

advanced to the exercise of the royal authority, but, drowning the
sense of all sacred obligations with a glut of sensual pleasures, he
authorised a malignant crew of statesmen to persecute and destroy
the people of God for their adherence to the Covenants which him-
self had entered into as the fundamental stipulation of government,
and to that Reformation which he had sworn to maintain and practise,
and for their bearing witness against the grand principle and founda-
tion upon which he built his power of overthrowing religion, and
setting up a new frame thereof in Britain, namely, the blasphemous
headship of Ecclesiastical Supremacy.

Hence it is evident to a demonstration, that the grand state of the
quarrel upon which the martyrs laid down their lives during the late
tyrannical reigns, was really one and the same with that for which
the zealous and faithful ministers suffered such hardships in the time
of King James VI., and afterwards ; this being the precise founda-
tion upon which all the other acts and oaths were built, which the
enemies made a handle of to involve honest people into the crime of
treason and rebelHon against the State, as it was then determined by
their iniquitous laws. ^ For, as this was still the principal question put
to them, " Owti ye the king's authority?" and the chief article of
indictment if they either answered in the negative or kept silence,
so it is evident that, by this question, they really meant not his civil
authority only, but also his pretended claim to supreme headship
over the Church.

For no sooner had he authorised a Parliament to meet at Edin-
burgh, under the inspection of that malignant wretch, John Earl of
Middleton, anno 1661, but that generation of enemies to the work
of God, intending the utter ruining thereof, set up this Dagon of the
Royal Prerogative, not only with respect to things civil, as " in the
choice of his officers of State, counsellors and judges " (Act ii.), in
" the calling and dissolving of Parliaments, and making laws " (Act
iii.) in " the militia, and in making peace and war " (Act v.) ; which
were great invasions upon the national liberties of the subjects ; but
also in things sacred, "in making of leagues, and the conventions
of the subjects" (Act iv.), wherein all the former work of Refor-
mation is condemned, and the Covenants made for its defence are
declared treasonable and rebellious actions against the royal preroga-
tive ; and in consequence hereof, it is declared that the League and
Covenant is not obhgatory upon this kingdom, nor doth infer any
obligation on the subjects thereof, to meddle or interpose in any-

xxii Preface to the Reader.

thing concerning the rehgion and government of the Churches of
England and Ireland ; and all the subjects are discharged "to renew
the same, as they will answer at their highest peril" (Act vii.) ; and
and in the oath of allegiance and acknowledgment of his majesty's
royal prerogative (Act xi. of the said Parliament), all persons, of
whatsoever trust, post, office, or employment, are obliged to swear,
that they " acknowledge the king only supreme governor of this
kingdom, over all persons and in all causes ;" and that they " do
with all humble duty acknowledge his majesty's royal prerogative,
in all the particulars, and in the manner aforementioned."

And to make the matter clearer, what they meant by the King's
authority, in the preamble of the first Act of the second session of
the same first Parliament, they assert, that " the ordering and disposal
of the external government and policy of this Church doth properly
belong unto his majesty, as an inherent right of the crown, by virtue
of his royal prerogative and supremacy in causes ecclesiastical."
And upon this bottom, he, with advice and consent of the estates of
Parliament, sets up the Episcopal form of Church-government, the
jurisdiction of bishops and archbishops over the inferior clergy, with
their concomitant of patronages, and " doth rescind, cass, and annul
all Acts of Parhament, by which the sole and only power and juris-
diction within this Church doth stand in the Church, and in the
general, provincial, and presbyterial Assemblies, and Kirk Sessions,
and all Acts of Parliament or Council, which may be interpreted to
have given any church power, jurisdiction or government, to the
office-bearers of the Church their respective meetings, other than
that which acknowledgeth a dependence upon, and subordination to,
the sovereign power of the king as supreme." And in pursuance
hereof, in the second Act of the foresaid session, entitled, "Act for pre-
servation of his majesty's person, authority, and government," he doth,
with the advice of his estates of Parliament, declare, "That the assembly
kept at Glasgow in the year 1638, was in itself (after the same was by
his majesty discharged, under the pain of treason), an unlawful and
seditious meeting ;" and " that all these gatherings, convocations, peti-
tions, protestations, and erecting and keeping of Council Tables, that
were used in the beginning, and for carrying on of the late troubles
(thus they call the work of Reformation) were unlawful and seditious ;
and particularly that these oaths, whereof the one was commonly called
the National Covenant, and the other a Solemn League and Covenant,
were, and are in themselves unlawful oaths ;" and therefore declares

Preface to the Reader. xxiii

their obligations void and null, and " annuls all acts or constitutions,
ecclesiastic or civil, approving them."

Nor does it suffice them to rescind these covenants and other
proceedings for carrying on the work of Reformation, as contrary
to this royal prerogative of ecclesiastic supremacy, and to inhibit
all persons to speak, write, or act anything in defence of the
same, and against the said prerogative ; but likewise, in the fifth
Act of the foresaid session, all persons in any place, office, or trust,
are obliged to swear all the particulars contained in the foresaid
Acts, in that most impious oath, commonly called the Declara-
tion. And again, in the fifth Act of the third session of the
foresaid Parliament, entitled " Act for the estabHshment and con-
stitution of a National Synod," it is declared, that " the ordering
and disposal of the external government of the Church, and the
nomination of the persons by whose advice matters relating to the
same are to be settled, doth belong to his majesty, as an inherent
right of the crown, by virtue of his prerogative royal, and supreme
authority in causes ecclesiastical." And in the first Act of the
second Parliament, holden by that apostate, John Earl of Lauder-
dale, entitled, " Act asserting his majesty's supremacy over all per-
sons, and in all causes ecclesiastical," commonly called the Act
Explanatory, it is expressly declared, " that his majesty hath the
supreme authority and supremacy over all persons, and in all causes
ecclesiastical within this kingdom ; and that, by virtue thereof, the
ordering and disposal of the external government and policy of the
church, doth properly belong to his majesty and his successors as an
inherent right to the crown ; and that his majesty and his successors
may settle, enact, and emit such constitutions, acts, and orders, con-
cerning the administration of the external government of the church,
and the persons employed in the same, and concerning all ecclesias-
tical meetings, and matters to be proposed and determined therein,
as they in their royal wisdom shall think fit."

ROM all which Acts, it plainly appears, that the true sense of
that authority, which they would have their private thoughts
about, was really, as the martyrs understood it, his ecclesi-
astic supremacy, and that no less than a recognition hereof would
serve their turn ; and though some of the martyrs offered a distinction
between the two, professing to own his civil authority abstract from
the ecclesiastical (as for instance, Mr John Dick), yet they were not

xxiv Preface to the Reader.

absolved, because they would not own his authority in gross. And
besides their including the supremacy over church matters into the
formal notion of the king's authority, they could be pleased with no
less, from any that they called before them, than an owning the whole
acts and laws, and entire exercise and administration of things in
Church and State, which was an implicit condemning of all the pre-
ceding Reformation, and consenting to the persecution and murder
of the saints who stood up for its defence.

It is true, indeed, these things were so impious and abominable,
that, had they been proposed without mask, they would presently have
begot an horror in the mind of any, who was not entirely lost to all
conscience and goodness ; and therefore these children of the old
serpent had so much of their father, that they made it their work to
hide these horrid hooks with some specious baits, that they might
tlie more easily entice simple people into that snare they had laid for
them ; and (hence, knowing how much it is the effect of true religion
to make men loyal, and that the Presbyterians were of all others the
readiest to yield all lawful subjection to their rightful princes, they
still made use of the specious title of authority as a blind to hide the
ecclesiastical supremacy and bloody exercise of their government,
from these whom they laboured to ensnare. They saw the supremacy
they intended to fix in the king was such a " Monstrum horrendum,
i7ifonne^ i?ige>is, Hecate atque Erebo ortuin,'' that, without some veil of
this nature, no man would be so mad as to embrace it.

But when this would not do, but that still its ill-favoured face ap-
peared through the vizor ; and all good men saw, that the authority
which sought no other way to maintain itself, but by blood and rapine,
was really degenerated into tyranny ; then they pretended to come
some steps lower, and said, that they required no more at the hands of
people, in order to dismiss them, but that they would at their desire
pray for the king, in their prescribed form of words, viz., " God save
the king," or that they would drink the king's good health. These
were by them represented to be so very minute and easy things, and by
a great many professors looked upon as so trivial and indifferent, that
they were in the fair way either to ensnare, or with more opportunity
to expose such as refused to the contempt of indifferent spectators,
as being such scrupulous fools and brain-sick persons, as were trans-
ported with an extravagant wild zeal without knowledge, who had
rather have a hand in their own death, than do so small and
indifferent a thing in order to prevent it. And hence not the perse-

Preface to the Reader. xxv

cutors only, but even a great many who professed presbyterian prin-
ciples, stood not to call them murderers instead of martyrs.

But all this notwithstanding, it is certain they had nothing else
before them, but to bring people to a tame submission and slavish
compliance with the whole course of their Christ-dethroning and
land-enslaving constitutions and administrations ; for they intended
the same thing, by urging people to say " God save the king," as by
the Oath of Allegiance, Declaration, or Test ; namely, an acknow-
ledgment of that authority, wherewith they had vested him in the
forementioned articles and others of like nature. Less than this could
never ser/e their design, which was still the same, whatever alterations
might appear to be in their way of prosecuting it.

For either these things were so insignificant and indifterent as they
gave them out to be, and as others conceived of them ; or they were
not. If we say the former, then what monsters of mankind were these
persecutors, who pursued poor innocent people to death, and inflicted
such cruel tortures upon them, for trifles and things of indifferency.
This is, what themselves (I suppose) would never admit, to be
reckoned a degree further lost to humanity than a Nero or Caligula,
so as to torment and destroy men for sport. Nay, they still pre-
tended that all these persecutions were made upon weighty and just
causes. If then we say the latter, namely, that they were not so very
inconsiderable things as some conceived ; wherein could the moment
and weight of them consist, but in this, that they were an owning of
the authority as it was contained in the laws, and what else was the
scope of the most openly impious Oaths, Tests, and Bonds, but this ?

And besides, when any yielded this much, they were still urged
further, till they had debauched them out of all conscience and
integrity as much as themselves. The rest of the questions put to
them, and made causes of their indictment, were all but so many
branches from this root, and rivulets from this spring. The chief
was that about defensive arms, which their laws had declared re-
bellion ; which all the martyrs, without the least jar or discord,
did steadfastly maintain as being a thing so very consonant, not
only to the positive commands of God in His Word, but also to
the very law of nature stamped on the heart, and to the laws
and practices of all kingdoms, and undertaken upon so necessary
grounds as the defence of the Gospel and lives of the innocent
in consequence of their Covenant engagements ; which, however,
these wicked persecutors had declared void and null, and the adhering

xxvi Preface to the Reader.

to them capital ; yet all such as had any love for Ood and zeal for His
cause believed to be perpetually obligatory upon them and the
nation, and therefore adhered to them with a steadfastness and
courage invincible, against the most bloody opposition. And it is
observable, that, whatever any of the martyrs had not so much light
in as others, or differed from others anenJ;, or was silent when inter-
rogated upon it, yet they all agreed perfectly and were clear abun-
dantly in owning, and bold, harmonious, and courageous in asserting
the lawfulness, and avouching the obligatory force, of the Covenants.

ATIONAL COVENANTS were the means that God had
constantly from the beginning of the Reformation made
use of and blessed, to cement and strengthen His people
in Scotland in their adherence to the truth. By means of these His
church was as a strong city and incorporation, all prosecuting the
same common cause of religion and liberty, so that by that common
bond the injury offered to any one of her members was taken as
done to all ; and beside the express command of the Word, this
was a blessed tie and engagement to every one in their place
and station to stand up for the purity of the doctrine, simplicity
of the Avorship, beauty and order of the government and discip-
line of Christ's house, and His royal supremacy over the same.
And hence malignant and disaffected persons, perceiving that there
was nothing so conducive to the advancement and preservation of
national reformation as these mutual bonds and sacred Covenants,
set themselves chiefly to destroy these, and in an ignominious manner
burnt thean, declared them treasonable and seditious, made the
owning of them criminal, and persecuted such as adhered to them ;
and, on the other hand, God was pleased mightily to animate His
suffering saints both with light and zeal in the defence of them
against all the efforts of hellish violence.

AVherefore, when this alone was not like to effectuate their design,
these persecutors betook themselves to another stratagem, and fell
upon more mild but more successful measures of giving out in-
demnities and indulgences, so restricted and limited, as the accepters
should be gained to a peaceable compliance with and submission to
their impious laws, and taken oft" from their zeal in maintaining the
work of Reformation, and divided from their Covenanted brethren.
By this means they weakened the remnant that had not complied
with Prelacy, set them at variance one against another, allured the

Preface to the Reader, xxvii

one to sit quietly still till they had made an end of their brethren,
and in short, rent and almost quite ruined the poor Presbyterian
Church of Scotland ; and hence, as the suffering remnant, which was
by far the smaller part, were much opposed and reproached by these
ministers and professors who accepted or made use of these pretended
favours, so it became a necessary head of testimony to witness
against the Indulgence, and acceptance thereof, or sinful connivance
thereat. The particular disposition of this afluir is not consistent
with the narrow limits of a preface. Wherefore the reader may see
for his satisfaction therein, " The History of the Indulgence,'
'• Informatory Vindication," " Hind let Loose," etc.

Afterwards, when the persecution became sore and violent against
the remnant that refused these deceitful baits, and stood to their
Covenanted religion and liberty, and that both by the open violence
of the enemies, and false slanders and calumnies of pretended friends,
they were obliged to emit several Declarations of their principles, and
to defend themselves from these unjust slanders and calumnies ;
which Declarations so soon as the persecutors got into their liands,
thinking they had got a good handle therein for taking away the lives
of all such as should adhere to them, (in regard that therein they
had more explicitly and fully cast off the authority of the tyrant
Charles 11. and specified the reasons why they could not own his
authority), they never failed on all occasions to make that a part of
their examinations. " Own ye the Sanquhar Declaration, the papers
found at Queensferry ?" etc. And many were indicted upon their
adherence to these Declarations and other papers. I conceive it is
not necessary to swell this preface with a particular defence of these
Declarations, that being so well done by themselves in the " In-
formator}- Vindication," which the reader may have recourse to ; and
as for the paper ibund upon Mr Hall of Haughhead, when he was
murdered at Queensferry, the reader shall see it, with a short relation
concerning that worthy gentleman's death, in the Appendix to this
book.

Another question commonly put to sufferers was. Whether they
owned the Excommunication at the Torwood ? which they did with
much freedom ; as a necessary duty, and lawfully performed, so far as
that broken state of the Church would permit, and upon most weighty
and sufficient grounds. The form and order of which Excommuni-
cation IS also added by way of Appendix to this book.

But their finest topic, wherein they insulted and glorified most,

xxviii Preface to the Reader.

was the death of James Sharp, Archbishop of St Andrews, which they
reckoned a cruel murder, and therefore hoped that, if the sufferers
should approve of the same, they would have a colour to destroy
them, as being men of assassinating and bloody principles, deserving
to be exterminated out of any well-governed commonwealth ; and
therefore it was still one of their questions — " Was the Bishop's
death murder?" To which question some answered directly that it
was a just and lawful execution of God's law upon him, for his per-
jurious treachery and bloody cruelty ; others were silent, or refused
to answer anything directly to the point, as, conceiving that it being
no deed of theirs, they were not obliged by any law. Divine or
human, to give their judgment thereupon, especially when they could
not exactly know the circumstances of the matter of fact, and saw
that the question was proposed with a design to ensnare them, or
take away their life. Yet was their very silence or refusal to give
their opinion made a cause of their indictment, and ground of their
sentence, and some were put to torture to make them give their
sentiments anent it. If any would be further satisfied on this head,
let him see " Hind let Loose," head vi. page 633. [Edition 1744,
page 646. — Ed.]

But however these murderers of the servants and people of God
made use of such questions as these to entangle them, yet still the
grand state of the quarrel was, " Whether Christ alone or King
Charles should be owned as head and lawgiver to the Church ; and
whether the Divine form of government and discipline which Christ
had instituted should continue in her ; or if an usurper should have
leave to mould it, as he pleased, and conform it to the pompous
dress of the Romish whore ?"

And hence it is also evident, that the state of the sufferings before
the engagement at Bothwell was really one and the same witli that
which was after it (as to the main, though things came to be
clearer after it), concerning the civil authority, when by that and
many other instances it was made evident, that the pretended rulers
were setting themselves directly to ruin the whole interests of the
subjects, as well civil as sacred, and that it was in vain to be any
longer in suspense, waiting for a satisfactory redress of grievances, or
opportunity to represent the same.

So that the charge of rebellion, laid against them not only by our
Episcopal passive-obedience men, but also by the Indulged and such
as tread their steps, is a most groundless imputation ; for King

Preface to the Reader. xxix

Charles had violated all the conditions of government, and mani-
festly degenerated into a tyrant, long before they rejected his
authority ; and had refused all claim to the subjects' allegiance, upon
the account of the contract which he entered into at his coronation,
and had no other pretence to authority but hereditary right, and
bloody force, with the consent of such profligate noblemen and
gentlemen as sat in these packed and pretended Parliaments ; which
could never, in law or reason, oblige the honest and faithful subjects
of the kingdom to comply with these tyrannical courses, and submit
to him, who had as really forfeited his right to be king of Britain, as
did his brother afterwards by his abdication.

But it is no new thing for the followers of Christ to meet with this
charge of rebellion. If a Jezebel wants a Naboth's vineyard, and he
stands up for his property, she will not want sons of BeHal to bear
witness that he " blasphemed God and the king." Do the adversaries
of Judah and Benjamin intend to stop the building of Jerusalem,
they '11 not want a Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe to
write, " That this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and
provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old
time." ^Vould Haman have all the Jews destroyed, because Mordecai
will not honour him, this is the charge he lays against them, as most
likely to effectuate his purpose, that " their laws are diverse from
all people, neither keep they the king's laws." Have the presidents
a purpose to be rid of Daniel, this is the engine, "that Daniel,
which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee,
O king ! nor the decree that thou hast signed." Is a Tertullus to
employ his eloquence against Paul, here's the artifice — " We have
found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among the
Jews." Were the Romans desirous to have the Christians exter-
minated out of the empire, what shift took they ? Why, truly this
was it, " The Christians are rebellious and seditious ; they won't
swear by the life of Caesar, nor adore his image !" and therefore
Christiaiws ad Leones. If we look through the whole ecclesiastic his-
tory, we shall scarce find a persecution raised, but this is an article
of the charge. But it is no paradox, " the servant is not greater than
his Lord;" even Christ himself was accused and condemned as an
enemy to Caesar, and a mover of sedition. But I shall not enter
into this argument ; the sufferers for Christ in Scotland have been
frequently vindicated from the charge of rebellion by more learned
pens, and yet still we have a generation of absurd men, who will not

XXX Preface to the Reader.

fail to renew it ; nor can the strength of argument silence them,
while they have brow enough to return railing in the room of reason.

HE reader having thus briefly seen the causes upon which
they laid down their lives, it were necessary to proceed to a
short delineation, both of the cruelty of the persecutors in-
flicting, and of the courage, patience, and cheerfulness of the martyrs
suffering these severities ; but as for the former, what tongue can
express, what pen can describe the barbarous cruelty and hellish rage
of these sons of wickedness ? One might write a volume upon their
cruelties, and after all fall short of drawing them to the life, or giving
any just idea of them ; they were so extremely inhuman and brutish.
At first they began with noblemen, gentlemen, and ministers, who had
been eminent for the cause of God ; beheading some, and placing
their heads on the ports \i.e., gateways] of Edinburgh, in token of the
highest contempt ; banishing others, ejecting all from their charges, but
such as would subject to Prelacy, and the blasphemous Supremacy ;
and vitiating all the springs and seminaries of learning. Next, they fell
to compel the common people to hear curates, by vast and exorbitant
fines, extorted by troops of soldiers, plundering, quartering, beating,
wounding, binding men like beasts ; chasing them away from their
houses ; compelling them, though sick, to go to church ; consuming
and wasting their provisions with dogs ; and promiscuously abusing,
as well those that conformed, as them that refused ; and if any testi-
fied their resentment at these vermin of ignorant and scandalous
curates, or refused to give them their titles, they were imprisoned,
scourged, stigmatised \i.e., branded with a hot iron], and banished to
Barbadoes or other foreign parts. Any that were hearing their own
ministers in private houses were seized, dragged to prisons, and close
kept there in great hardship ; and that of every age and sex.

These were their tender mercies, and but the beginnings of sor-
rows ; for, after the defeat at Pentland Hills, beside what were killed
upon the spot, such as surrendered upon quarter and solemn parole
to have their life, were, contrary to the law of nature and nations,
treacherously and bloodily murdered, to the number of forty ; one
of them, a much reverenced young minister [Hugh M'Kail] had
his leg squeezed to pieces in the Boot, and was afterwards hanged,
though he was not in the fight, but had only a sword about him.
Soldiers were ordered to take free quarters in the country to ex-
amine men by tortures ; to compel women and children to discover

Preface to the Reader. xxxi

their husbands and fathers, by threatening death, wounding, stripping,
torturing by fire-matches, etc. ; crowding into prisons so thick that
they could scarce stand together, in cold, hunger, and nakedness ;
and all this, because they would not or could not discover who were
at that expedition. Likewise many ensnaring bonds, oaths, and tests
were framed, and imposed with rigour and horrid severity ; people
obliged to have passes declaring they had taken them, or swear
before common soldiers, under pain of being presently shot dead.
Severe laws were made against ministers that came to Edinburgh for
shelter; they and their wives were searched for, by public search,
crowded into prisons, and sent to foreign plantations to be sold as
slaves. Dragoons were sent to pursue people that attended field-
preachings, to search them out in mosses, moors, mountains and
dens of the earth. Savage hosts of Highlanders were sent down
to depopulate the western shires, to the number of ten or eleven
thousand, who acted most outrageous barbarities, even almost to the
laying some countries desolate.

After the overthrow of the Lord's people at Bothwell they
doubled their severities ; issued out more soldiers, imposed cess,
localities, and other new exactions, forced people to swear super
inquirendis, and delate upon oath all that went to field-preachings ;
they set up extraordinary circuit courts, enlarged their Porteous rolls,
[i.e., lists of persons summoned to appear before the Justiciary Courts],
pressed bonds of compearance to keep the peace, to attend the
church, refrain from field-meetings, etc. ; examining country people
upon several questions which they had no occasion to understand,
concerning the death of King Charles L and the Archbishop of St
Andrews, and condemning them to death for not answering ; quarter-
ing some alive, cropping their ears, cutting off the hands of some,
and then hanging them, cutting their bodies in pieces after they were
dead, and fixing them upon poles in chains, and upon steeples and
ports of cities, beating drums at their executions, that they might not
be heard speak ; detaining others long in prison, laden with chains
and fetters of iron, and exposed to greater tortures than death itself,
and, after all, sent to be sold as slaves, to empty the prisons; exercis-
ing all these bloody deaths and cruelties upon poor country people,
which had no influence to do hurt to their government, though they
had been willing ; yea, upon women of tender age, whom they hanged
and drowned, for refusing their oaths and bonds, and resetting the
Lord's suffering people.

xxxii Preface to the Reader.

It would be endless to enumerate all the barbarities exercised upon
particular persons, only for a swatch [/.<?., specimen], take these in-
flicted upon that excellent gentleman, David Hackston of Rathillet.
He was taken out from the place of judgment to his execution, and
his body, which was already wounded, was tortured while he was alive,
by cutting off both his hands, which was done upon a high scaffold
prepared for the purpose ; thereafter being drawn up by a pulley to the
top of the high gallows by the rope which was about his nec4c, and
suffered to fall down a considerable way upon the lower scaffold
three times with his whole weight ; then he was fixed at the top of
the gallows, and the executioner, with a big knife, cutting open his
breast, pulled out his heart while he was yet alive (as appeared both by
the body contracting itself, when it was pulled out, and by the violent
motion of the heart when it dropped upon the scaffold), which the
executioner, taking up upon the knife, showed to the people upon the
several corners of the stage, crying, " Here is the heart of a traitor I"
and then threw it in a fire prepared for the purpose upon the stage,
together also with his other inward and noble parts ; and having
quartered his body, fixed his head and hands on a port at Edin-
burgh, and the other quarters at Leith, Cupar of Fife, and other
places. Such was the size and proportion of their persecutions, while
yet they pretended to bring them to the knowledge of assizes and
colour of law.

But being now weary with these persecutions, accordmg to the
tenor of their own laws, the Councillors, to rid themselves of this
trouble, gave out an edict for killing them, wherever they might be
found, immediately upon the spot, unless they would take the oaths,
and show their pass (which they behoved to swear that it was not
forged), and if they found any arms or ammunition upon them of any
sort. By means of which edict, many were suddenly surprised and shot
dead by the brutish and merciless soldiers, who were either peace-
ably living at home, following their lawful employments, or wandering
in mountains to hide themselves from their bloody enemies, not
being allowed time to recommend their souls to God \ and the
country was engaged by oath to raise the hue and cry against them,
in order to deliver them up to the hands of these burriors [/.<'.,
executioners.] The chief contrivers and framers of this horrid
murdering edict, were the Earl of Perth, chancellor, Duke of Queens-
berry, Marquis of Athole, and, particularly, the Viscount of Tarbat,
now Earl of Cromarty, who invented this murdering device, wherein

Pre/ ace to the Reader. xxxiii

yet ne carried so cunningly, that he procured the despatch of the Act
to the king with such suddenness, that he found a way to shift his own
subscribing it ; and though he wants power now to practise such
bloody mischief, yet, it is evident, he has not repented thereof; but
IS, as yet, a contriver of the present encroachments made upon the
Established Church, by the late mischievous Acts of Parliament [;>.,
the Act of Toleration, requiring the taking of the Oath of Abjuration,
the Act restoring Patronage, etc. — Ed.]

But I must not launch any further into the relation of these cruelties,
the true history of which would commence into a volume. I own
indeed, that a fuller narration of these things, with pertinent observa-
tions thereupon, would have been proper enough for the intended
work ; but, hoping that the Lord may yet raise up some of better
abilities for such an undertaking, to set these sufferings in a true
light, and give an impartial recital thereof, this short hint, together
with some account of these cold blood murderers in the Appendix,
may suffice at present.

ET us next view a little, with some attention and concern, with
what undaunted courage, holy resolution, and greatness of
mind, with what unshaken steadfastness and constancy, those
worthy sufferers underwent all these bloody severities. Those disciples
of Jesus had been so trained up in His school, and learned the great
Christian doctrines of bearing the cross, mortifying the flesh, and
contemning the world — they had been so thoroughly instructed by this
great Master of assemblies, who teaches to profit, and leads the blind
in a way they know not, to discern the exceeding preciousness of truth,
and excellency of the knowledge of Christ — that they were made
willing, yea, cheerfully willing, to forego riches, honours, pleasures,
liberty, and life itself, when they came in competition with a steady
adherence to the truth and honour of their lovely Lord. Love to
Jesus Christ was the great spring which set all the wheels of their
affections in motion, to do and suffer for Him whatever He called
them to. Every one of them could say to their persecutors, what
Chrysostom said to the Empress Eudoxia, who sent him a threatening
message, " Nil nisi peccaiwn timeo," I fear nothing but sin. They
saw so much of the evil of sin, and beauty of holiness, that they
would rather undergo the severest of suffering than stain their consci-
ences with the least sin, or lose the smallest filing of this fine gold
of truth. Many of the things for which they suffered were reckoned

xxxiv Preface to the Reader.

small by the indifferent world, but to them they appeared in their
just magnitude.

Tertullian, in his book, " De Corona Militis," tells us, that
when a certain Christian soldier in the emperor's army refused to
wear a crown of bays upon his head, as all the rest of the soldiers
did upon a day sacred to one of the heathen idols, he was not
only mocked by the infidels for his nicety, but even by many of
the Christians ; conceiving it a folly that this one man, for such a
small and indifferent thing, should endanger both himself and other
Christians ; but Tertullian defends him, and says, " This soldier was
more God's soldier, and more constant than the rest of his brethren,
who presumed they might serve two Lords, and, for avoiding perse-
cution, comply with the heathen in their superstitious rites." And
when some Christians, who, like our Indulged people, would rather
comply than endure the hazard, objected, " Where is it written in
all the Word of God, that we should not wear bays upon our heads?"
Tertullian answers, " Where is it written that we may do it ? We
must look into the Scriptures to see what we may do ; and not think
it enough that the Scripture doth not forbid directly this or that very
particular."

They knew, with the same Tertullian, in the fore-cited book,
" that the state of Christianity doth not admit the excuse of necessity.
There is no necessity of sinning to them, to whom it is only necessary
not to sin." And hence they would not so much as seem to call in
question any of the truths of Christ ; when the enemies would have
given them time to deliberate, and advise anent them, they were so
confirmed in the present truth, that they answered their adversaries
as Cyprian once did his, " In materia tarn justa non est deliberan-
dum" \xi so just a cause there needs no deliberation. When they
were urged with the example of other Presbyterians, ministers and
professors, who had complied, and were far wiser and better than
they ; this did not shake them, but rather heightened their zeal. As
Chrysostom tell us, these two holy martyrs, Juventius and Maximus,
when they were urged by their persecutors with this argument, " Do
not ye see others of your rank do thus?" answered, "for this very
reason we will manfully stand and offer ourselves as a sacrifice for
the breach that they have made." So the sad defections of their
brethren made them the more emulous to witness for Christ, when so
many, Demas-like, had forsaken Him, having loved this present world.

These martyrs had such large discoveries of Christ's love,

Preface to tJie Reader. xxxv

especially under the cross, that their hardest trials were accounted
light. As Stephen the protomartyr got the fullest view of Christ
while before the council, so these had most Hvely sights of Him under
their sharpest sufferings ; and hence they could not find in their
heart to deny so kind a Master. As Polycarp, that holy minister of
Christ at Smyrna,~answered the proconsul bidding him defy Christ
and he should be discharged : " Fourscore and six years (said he)
have I been His servant, yet all this time He hath not so much as
once hurt me ; how then may I speak evil of my King and Sovereign
who hath thus preserved me?" so they were under a lively sense of
their vows and obhgations to Christ, personal and national, and
therefore durst not, could not, deny His name, nor break His bonds,
and cast away His cords, as the wicked had done. They were of the
resolute disposition of Victorianus, who, being solicited by the
Emperor to turn Arian, told him, "You may try all extremities,
torture me, expose me to wild beasts, burn me to ashes ; I had rather
suffer anything than falsify my promise made to Christ my Saviour in
baptism." And as Christ had been very kind to them, so they
trusted much to Him, and depended on Him for strengthening
influence, being very sensible of their own weakness ; and they durst
promise much on Christ's head ; they could say, as Vincentius to the
tyrant Decius, " Rage, and do the utmost that the spirit of malignity
can set you on work to do ; you shall see God's Spirit strengthen the
tormented more than the devil can do the tormentors," And as
Zuinglius to the Bishop of Constance, " Truth is a thing invincible,
and cannot be resisted."

As they Avere well instructed in the necessity, so in the usefulness
and benefit of the cross ; they knew that, as the church and nation
had deserved to be chastened and punished of God, so it was far
more eligible to be chastened by sore adversities, inflicted by a
loving father, than by severe impunities of an incensed and just
judge. They knew that the grief they suffered was medicinal, not
penal ; the correction of a father, not the indignation of an enemy ;
and that they needed such merciful files and furnaces of adversity to
scour off the rust they had contracted in prosperity. Nay, they were
not only content to undergo these fatherly corrections, but accounted
it a singular kindness and condescension that what they deserved
should be their punishment, was made their glory, crown, and honour ;
that they, who had merited to be scattered into corners, and have
their remembrance made to cease from among men, for their lightly

XXX vi Preface to the Reader.

prizing the precious and glorious Gospel, should be gathered into
such a cloud of witnesses, and have their remembrance made ever-
lasting as honoured martyrs for Christ and the defence of His Gospel ;
that when they had provoked God by their sinful lusting after a
malignant to be their king, they should be dignified to contend for
the kingly prerogatives of such a glorious and good sovereign as the
King of Kings. And as they had a good understanding in the
doctrine of the cross, so likewise in the promise of the crown that is
upon the back of the cross ; they had their eye at the recompense
of reward, and therefore endured, because by faith they saw Him who
is invisible. It was their looking unto Jesus, who endured such
contradiction of sinners against Himself, that made them bear all
these reproaches, slanders, scoffs, and jeers, from enemies and pro-
fessed friends, with such invincible patience.

HOU hast here, Christian reader, the dying speeches of some
of these noble heroes, and, as the speeches of dying men are
remarkable, the speeches of dying Christians more remark-
able, how remarkable must the speeches of dying witnesses for Christ
be ? It is reasonably expected that dying men, much more dying
Christians, and most of all, dying martyrs, should speak best at last.
They are immediately to give in their last account ; they are disin-
terested from all the worldly views that use to darken our understand-
ings and bias our affections, while living in health and prosperity ;
they are upon the borders of eternity ; and, as the motions of nature
are the stronger the nearer they are to the centre, so saints are most
lively and heavenly when nearest heaven. Martyrs have a special
promise " that it shall be given them in that hour what they shall
speak." The last speeches of Christ's dying witnesses have extorted
even from heathens acknowledgments to the honour of God ; " Voe
fnagnus est Deus Christianormn" Truly great is the Christians' God 1
They have been made the means of conversion to many thousands of
sinners ; as Justin Martyr testifies of himself, that the dying words of
the Christians made him fall in love with the life of Christianity.
["Second Apology," chap. 12].

I own they are not bedecked with the embellishments of oratory
and fine language ; who can expect that from people of so mean
education ? But they are full of the language of heaven, which is
many degrees more forcible than all our artificial rhetoric. One will
find several mistakes in grammar, no doubt, in them ; but they were

Preface to the Reader. xxxvH

never intended for the reflections of critics, but for the instruction of
Christians ; and their plain rude discourses may, through God's
blessing, do more good to the latter, than the most elaborate com-
posures can do to the former. They may serve both as a comfort
and encouragement to sufferers, and as an instruction and example
to saints. Herein, as in a glass, we may both see our blemishes,
wherein we come short of them, and learn to dress ourselves with
the like Christian ornaments of zeal, holiness, steadfastness, meekness,
patience, humility, and other graces.

But, alas ! How can the best of us read these Testimonies,
without blushing for our low attainments and small proficiency in
the school of Christ ! How unlike are we to them ! how zealous were
they for the honour of Christ ! How lukewarm are we of whatever
profession or denomination ! How burning was their love to Him,
His truths, ordinances and people ! How cold is ours ! How self-
denied and crucified to the world were they ! How selfish and
worldly are we ! How willing were they to part with all for Christ,
and what an honour did they esteem it to suffer for Him, to be
chained, whipped, haltered, staked, imprisoned, banished, wounded,
killed for Him ! How unwilling are we to part with a very little
for Him, much less to endure such hardships, and account them our
glory ! Alas ! are we not ashamed of what they accounted their
ornament, and account that our glory, which they looked upon as a
disgrace ! How easy was it for them to choose the greatest sufferings
rather than the least sin ! How hard is it for us not to choose the
greatest sin, before the least suffering ! Oh that their Christian
virtues could upbraid us out of our lethargy of supine security, — that
their humility, meekness, and patience could shame us out of our
pride, haughtiness, and impatience ! They were sympathising
Christians, active for the glory of God and good of souls, diligent to
have their evidences for heaven clear; and, having obtained assurance
of God's love to their persons, and approbation of their cause, they
went cheerfully on their way, fearless of men, who can only kill the
body, and ready to die the most violent death at God's call. But,
oh ! how little fellow-feeling is there now among Christians ; but
instead thereof, bitterness, emulation, wrath, envy, contentions and
divisions ! How little concern for the work and cause of Christ !
how dark are the most part, both as to their spiritual state, and their
proper and pertinent duty ! And how much is the fear of man pre-
vailing above zeal for the glory of God !

xxxviii Preface to the Reader.

KNOW it is objected by some, that they much wanted that
virtue which is the greatest ornament of Christians, and
truest character of martyrs, namely, a forgiving disposition ;
because they lay their blood at the door of the principal contrivers
and executors of their death, which the objectors suppose not to
have been done by any of the former sufferers for Christ. But to
this I oppone:

I. Granting, for argument's sake, that they had expressed them-
selves with some more fervency on that head, than others formerly
have done, and that this was a piece of their infirmity, it will not
follow that we should presently admit the invidious inference, that
therefore they were no martyrs for Christ ; for as neither the many
gross failings of the Old Testament saints, nor the mistakes of the
primitive Christians about the truths for which they suffered, could
deprive either of the honour of saintship or martyrdom, so neither
ought any infirmity of theirs to be improven against them for that
end. Solomon tells us, that oppression makes a wise man mad ; and
they met with it in the highest degree, and that not from the hands
of Pagans, Turks, or Papists, but of those who had been their cove-
nanted brethren by profession ; and when a holy self-resigned David
had much ado to bear reproaches from the hand of one that had
been his equal, guide, and acquaintance, with whom he had formerly
sweet fellowship, it was not to be wondered, if they were put upon
some vehemency of expression by their severe suff"erings from such
hands ; and should rather be favourably constructed of.

" Si quid,

Intumuit pietas, si quid flagrantius actum est."

But, 2. More directly, I am bold to deny the charge ; for they
everywhere distinguish betwixt the injuries done to them, considered
simply in themselves, and the injuries done to Christ, and to His
image in them. The former they declare they forgive as they desire
forgiveness of God themselves ; the latter they leave to God's sove-
reign disposal, withal wishing that God might give them repentance.
Nor is the thing unprecedented ; for, beside the example of Jeremiah,
who laid his innocent blood at the door of the princes, if they should
take his life, there might be several more recent parallels adduced.
It shall suffice to instance one of our own nation, imprisoned for
bearing witness to the same truth, namely, worthy Mr John Welch,
who, in his letter to Lady Fleming, hath these express words : "The

Preface to the Reader. xxxix

guilt of our blood shall lie upon bishops, councillors, and commis-
sioners, who have stirred up our prince against us, and so upon the
rest of our brethren, who either by silence approve, or by crying
peace, peace, strengthen the arm of the wicked, that they cannot
return, and in the meantime make the heart of the righteous sad.
Next, upon all them that sat in council, and did not bear plain testi-
mony of Jesus Christ and His truth, for which we suffer. And next,
upon these that should have come and made open testimony of Christ
faithfully, although it had been to the hazard of their lives. Finally,
all those that counsel, command, consent, and allow, are guilty in the
sight of God." Sure I am, this is as full as anything they have on
this head, and proves that what they did was consistent with a Chris-
tian and forgiving temper of spirit.

And as they went off the stage both with magnanimity and meek-
ness, so it has been observed concerning many of their persecutors,
that they departed this world with visible symptoms of God's wrath
and judgments, especially with hell in their souls. I mean, the
horror of an awakened conscience, under the sense of God's indigna-
tion, than which there can be no greater torment in this life.

"Siculi non invenere tyranni

Tormentum majus. "

Well, these martyrs are now in heaven, in Abraham's warm
bosom, enjoying the crown laid up for them, confirmed in an
unchangeable state of rest and blessedness : we are yet in the stage
of action and place of probation, we have our trials before us ; let us
imitate the Cloud of Witnesses, and contend for the faith once
delivered to the saints. We know not what storms are abiding us ;
the Canaanite and the Perizzite are yet in the land. A restless
Popish and Jacobite party, projecting a new revolution of affairs ; as
sanguinary and cruel yet as ever, and retaining as much of the old
malignity and enmity against the Covenanted work of Reformation
as ever, only waiting an opportunity to exert it ; [the Jacobite insur
rection in favour of the Pretender took place in 17 15 — the year after
these words were written. — Ed.] ; and many things in the present as-
pect of affairs portending, that they may be our scourge in the hand of
our displeased Lord, for our misimproving mercies and deliverances,
satisfying ourselves with our own things, not minding the things of
Christ ; chiefly for our undervaluing the offers of the blessed Son of
God in the Gospel, and visible breach of national obligations to be
for Him and His cause. Seeing then such clouds are gathering, and

xl Preface to the Reader.

threatening a dismal tempest, let us arm ourselves with the same mind,
to stand up for the truth upon all hazards, whether we be called of God
to do, or to suffer, for the joint interest of true religion and national
libert)' ; for these, like Hippocrates's twins, weep or laugh, live or die
together. Righteousness exalteth a nation, said the wise Solomon ;
and Theodosius the Emperor owned that the establishment of a
Christian state depends chiefly upon piety towards God. On the
other hand, civil liberty is an excellent bulwark to religion, without
which its purity cannot long be preserved ; for, as the same Emperor
said, " Miilta inter ecclesiam et rempiiblicam cognatio inter cedere solet ;
ex se invicem pendent^ et utraque prosperis alterius successibiis incrementa
sumit ;'' there is a great sibness [?>., close relationship], betwixt the
Church and the Commonwealth ; they depend the one upon the other,
and either is advanced by the prosperity and success of the other.

It is to be feared, that this time of ease and outward peace has so
effeminated and softened our spirits, that we'll find it hard to face
a storm \ we may complain with Eusebius, " Res nostrae niinia liber-
tate in mollitiem et segnitiem degeTierarunt ;''^ too much liberty has
made us soft and sluggish. The vigorous exercise of Christian
discipline has been much intermitted, and therefore we have ground
to expect severe correction from the hand of God. Cyprian observes,
that this was the procuring cause of God's correcting the Church in
his time : " Qtiia traditam nobis divinitus discip/inafu pax longa cor-
ruperat,jacentem fidem, et pene dixerim dormientem, censura coelestis
erexit;" because long peace had corrupted the divinely instituted
discipline, therefore, there needed heavenly chastisement to awaken
the faith of the Church, which was lying low, and almost fast asleep.
All these dying witnesses assure us of judgments abiding this Church
and nation, and our present condition seems to say, that we are the
people that are to meet with them ; liow much need then had we of
the Christian armour, the divine patiop/ia, which made these Chris-
tians proof against all the fiery darts of Satan and the wicked ; and
of the holy submission which made them bear the indignation of the
Lord patiently, because they bad sinned against Him ?

^^AVING thus briefly ushered thee into the following sheets,
Christian and candid reader, I shall detain thee no longer
from perusing them, save only by the way to take notice
of these few advertisements :

I. It is not pretended that here are all the Speeches and Testi-

Preface to the Reader. xli

monies of those that suffered in Scotland since the year 1680. For
many of them, which no doubt are extant, have not come into the
hands of the publishers of this collection, and some of them, that
were in their hands, did so far coincide with others in matter and
phrase, that they left them unpublished, with some remark upon
them, to keep up the memory of these honourable sufferers ; being
desirous that the book should not swell to such a bulk, as might
make it less useful to country people, who have not much money to
buy, nor leisure to read bulky volumes. And if encouragement be
found in this attempt, there may more of them come to be published
afterwards. Only this the collectors of these testimonies can say,
that they have left out none which were in their hands, that they
conceived might be for the benefit of the public, upon any sinistrous
view or account. And if any shall find any alteration in any of them
from their own manuscripts (except it be in the grammar, wherein
they took some little freedom, where necessity required it), they are
to impute it to the variety of copies, whereof they had several, and
chose that which they conceived most genuine.

2. As for the Testimonies of the Banished, they being much the
same as to all material points with these of the dying witnesses, they
are omitted, and a list of their names added in the Appendix.

3. The Last Speeches of those who suffered on account of the Earl
of Argyle's attempt, in the year 1685, are advisedly pretermitted, both
because some of them are already published in a book entitled, " The
Western Martyrology," and likewise because it is the opinion of the
encouragers of this work, that their testimony was not so directly con-
certed, according to the true state of the quarrel, for the Covenanted
interest of the Church of Christ in Scotland, as it ought to have been ;
though they intend not hereby to rob them of the glory of martyrdom
for the Protestant religion. Nor can this be any prejudice to others,
who may incline more fully to publish the transactions of these times.

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who enabled
His people to witness so good a confession for His truth and cause,
make these dying speeches useful to animate all the lovers of the
reformed religion, with the like Christian magnanimity and resolution,
to stand up for its defence against a Popish, Prelatic, and Jacobitish
faction, endeavouring its overthrow ! May He unite us in the way of
truth and duty, to strive together for the valuable interests of our
religion and liberty !

AN ENCOMIUM

FOLLOWING MARTYRS.

O ! here of faithful Witnesses a Cloud,

For Christ their King resisting unto blood,
Lo ! here upon their Pisgah top they stand,
Just on the confines of Emmanuel's Land :
Leaving th' ungrateful world, longing to be
Possess'd of blessed immortality.
Lo ! here they stand, accosting cruel death
With Christian braveness, to their latest breath -,
The views they have of heav'n's eternal joys,
So far eclipse all sublunary toys.
Their souls are only charm'd with things above,
Exulting in their sweet Redeemer's love.
Lo ! here they stand, and will not quit the field,
They'll die upon the spot, before they'll yield.
Lo ! with what courage and brave resolution
They bear the shock of bloody persecution.
Hell's rage, Rome's fury, or the scorn of those
Pretending friendship, though the worst of foes,
Could never shake their steady loyalty
To Zion's King, for whose supremacy

An Encommm. xliii

Over His Church thus boldly they contend,

And by His grace endure unto the end ;

Refusing e'er to make a base surrender

Of Christ's regalia to a vile pretender,

Who, swoU'n with more than Luciferian pride,

Could not in his own princely place abide,

But would usurp the sp'ritual pow'r and throne

By God JEHOVAH giv'n to Christ alone.

And having thus 'gainst heav'n display'd a banner.

The Covenant he swore in solemn manner

He broke and burnt ; Divine and human laws

Trod under foot ; and, to advance his cause,

Made bloody violence the only claim,

Whereby he wore the royal diadem :

Being serv'd with beasts devoid of human sense,

Much more of honour and of conscience ;

Who slew God's dearest saints in field and city,

'Gainst law and reason, without sense of pity \

Whose sharpest sufferings could not assuage,

Nor death itself allay their hellish rage ;

As if their bodies dead felt sense of pains.

Cut all in parts, they hung them up in chains ;

Heads, legs, and arms, they plac'd on every port

Of burghs, or other places of resort,

As standing trophies of their victory

O'er Divine truth and human liberty.

Well, have they kill'd, and ta'en possession too ?

Is this the utmost that their rage could do,

Only to send Christ's loving subjects home.

To their dear country where they long to come !

What matter where their dusty parts do ly,

Interr'd in earth, or lifted up on high.

While as their souls eternal anthems raise,

In sweet accents to their Redeemer's praise I

xliv

A Cloud of Witnesses.

And will not Zion's King regain His crown ?
Throwing such vain aspiring mortals down
Into that direful pit, from whence did flow
These mists of pride which did enchant them so.

Come, then, behold these noble Witnesses

Adorn'd with holy zeal and faithfulness ;

Who like a Cloud do us environ round,

Viewing (as 'twere) what way we'll stand our ground.

Let's run our race with equal patience.

With eyes intent upon our recompense.

The Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh.

Donald CargilL

ONALD CARGILL was the fourth mmister, in succession
from the Reformation, of the Barony parish, Glasgow ; his
predecessor being Zachary Boyd, the author of the quaint
poem, the " Last Battle of the Soul," and a metrical version of the
Psalms. He was a native of the parish of Rattray in Perthshire,
and received his early education in Aberdeen. From school he
went to the University of St Andrews, where he passed through the
regular curriculum.

His father, a godly and religious gentleman, says Sir Robert
Hamilton, in his " Relation of some Remarkable Passages in the
Life of Mr Donald Cargill " (given in the Appendix to this volume),
was desirous that he should study for the ministry ; but he declined,
under the conviction that the responsibilities of the office were greater
than he could bear. His father still continued to urge him, when he
resolved to set apart a day for fasting, and prayer for Divine direc-
tion. The result was, that he yielded to his father's wishes.

Professor James Wodrow, the father of the historian, was a
fellow-student, and was very intimate with him. The Professor
says that he was shy and reserved, and for a time was troubled
with grievous temptations, which drove him to such despair that he
at length determined to put an end to his miserable life. Under
the horrible fury of those fiery darts, he went out once or twice
to the river Clyde, with a dreadful resolution to drown himself;
but somebody or other coming by him, always stayed his purpose.

A Cloiid of Witnesses.

The temptation still continued, and one day he was on the point of
throwing himself into an old coal pit, when that word struck him in
the mind, "Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven." It put
new life into him. His fears and doubts vanished, and his faith
acquired the confidence that so strikingly appears in his after life.

He became minister of the Barony parish in 1654. Little, how-
ever, is known of him during his ministry, further than the general
statement of Wodrow, that he was " a pious and zealous minister,"
and a "successful preacher of the Gospel." In 1662 he refused to
keep the anniversary day of thanksgiving for the restoration of
Charles II., and to accept a presentation from the archbishop of
Glasgow ; and in November he was banished north of the Tay.

He was at the battle of Bothwell Bridge — June 22, 1679 — when
he was severely wounded and taken prisoner, but was set free by
his two captors when they found who he was. As soon as his wounds
healed he went over to Holland ; but after a short residence there
he returned to Scotland, and lived in retirement at Queensferry.
The escape he here made when surprised by his enemies, through
Haughhead's grappling with the governor of Blackness until he got
safely away, is detailed in the Appendix, in the " Brief Relation," etc.,
of Henry Hall. After this deliverance he preached much in com-
pany with Richard Cameron, until the fatal encounter at Airsmoss —
July 22, 1680 — left him well-nigh alone.

In September, before a great assemblage at the Torwood, half
way between Larbert and Stirling, he pronounced sentence of ex-
communication upon Charles II., and the Dukes of York, Mon-
mouth, Lauderdale, Rothes, Sir G. M'Kenzie, and Dalziel of Binns.
The sentence itself is in the Appendix. The Government was now
stirred up more than ever against him. On November 22, he
was declared to be "one of the most seditious preachers," and "a
villainous and fanatical conspirator," and a reward of 5000 merks
offered to any one who should bring him in, dead or alive. In Decem-
ber following he made a second narrow escape from the governor of
Blackness. He spent the ne.xt three months in England, where,
according to Patrick Walker, " the Lord blessed his labours in the
ministry to the conviction and edification of many souls."

In April 1681 he came back to Scotland, and passed his few re-
maining weeks in almost constant preaching. His last sermon was
preached, July loth, at Dunsyre, a parish in Lanarkshire on the con-
fines of Midlothian, and on the watershed between the east and west

Donald Cargill.

of Scotland. Next morning he was seized while in bed, and was
immediately hurried on to Lanark, and thence to Glasgow ; on the
15th he was brought before the Council in Edinburgh, and again on
the 19th. His "interrogatories" and "answers" on both occasions
are in Wodrow's History. During his imprisonment Professor Wod-
row visited him. After some conversation, he asked how he found
matters with him ? Mr Cargill answered, " as to the main point,
my interest in Christ, and the pardon of my sins, I have no doubts
there ; neither have I been ever shaken since the Lord's condescen-
sion to me in my extremity about twent}'-five years ago, which I
communicated to you a little after; and no thanks to me, for the
evidence was so clear that I could, never since, once doubt."

He was tried on the 26th, along with Walter Smith, James Boig,
William Thomson, and ^V^illiam Cuthill, martyrs whose testimonies
are also in this volume. According to Patrick Walker, in " Some
Remarkable Passages in the Life and Death of that singular Exem-
plary, holy in life, zealous and faithful unto the death, Mr Cargill,"
when he was first brought before the Council, "they were very fierce
and furious against him, especially Chancellor Rothes." But, in the
interval, Cargill's words at the examination, as well as the spectacle
of Rothes, now in sore suffering upon his death-bed, [so remarkably
in accordance with the martyr's answer to his threatenings : " My
Lord Rothes, forbear to threaten me; for die what death I will,
your eyes will not see it,"] had done much to allay their wrath ;
and it was proposed, that " as he was old, and had done all the ill
he would do, to let him go to the Bass and be prisoner there during
life." It was put to the vote, but by the casting vote of the Earl of
Argyle, who said, " Let him go to the gallows and die like a traitor,"
it was carried that he be hanged next day.

Argyle's vote afterwards troubled him. His premature rising in
1685 against the Government with which he had been so long asso-
ciated, brought him few followers. One morning, after his landing,
he was walking at the waterside very sad, when he was accosted by a
Thomas Urquhart. " I am sorry to see your Lordship so melanchol}'."
" How can I be otherwise ? " replied Argyle. " I see few coming to
our assistance. I am persuaded I will be called Infatuate Argyle.
But all does not trouble me so much as the unhappy, wicked vote I
gave against that good man and minister, Mr Cargill ; and now I am
persuaded I shall die a violent death in that same spot where he died,"
a persuasion unhappily soon verified. On the morning of his execu-

A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

THE HIGH CHURCH OF GLASGOW, FROM AN OLD PRINT — EAST VIEW.

tion, it is said that Argyle again spoke of the vote to some of his
friends, and declared, " That above all things in his life, it lay heaviest
upon him."

The sentence passed upon Cargill and his fellow-sufferers was
executed July 27th, 1681. "The hangman hashed and hagged off
all their heads with an axe. Mr Cargill's, Mr Smith's, and Mr Boig's
heads were fixed upon the Netherbow Port ; William Cuthill's and
William Thomson's upon the West Port."

Donald Cargill's dying testimony, and the four letters that follow
it, are all of the same character — earnest and evangelical, and written
in nervous English. M'Millan's " Collection of Letters," Edinburgh,
1764, contains two by Cargill. They are of the same nature as
tnose in this volume. John Howie of Lochgoin, in his " Collection
of Lectures and Sermons," etc., has given four lectures and seven
sermons, from notes taken by hearers. But they are obviously im-
perfect, and by no means do justice to Donald Cargill. One of
them is said to be his last sermon. Patrick Walker gives the close
of the same discourse, and in a form much superior to that of Howie,
which indeed justifies Wodrow's commendation, as well as his own,
of Donald Cargill as a preacher :

" I had the happiness to hear blest Mr Cargill preach his last

Donald Cargill.

THE HIGH CHURCH OF GLASGOW RESTORED — WEST VIEW.

public sermons (as I had several times before, for which, while I
live, I desire to bless the Lord) in Duns) re-Common, betwixt Clydes-
dale and Lothian, where he lectured upon the ist chapter of Jere-
miah, and preached upon that soul-refreshing text, Isa. xxvi., two last
N-erses, ' Come, my people, enter into your chambers,' etc. ^^^herein
he was short, marrowy, and sententious, as his ordinary was in all his
public sermons and prayers, with the greatest evidences of con-
cernedness, exceeding all that ever I heard open a mouth, or saw
open a Bible to preach the Gospel, with the greatest indignation at
the unconcernedness of hearers. He preached from experience, and
went to the experience of all that had any of the Lord's gracious
dealing with their souls. It came from his heart, and went to the
heart ; as I have heard some of our common hearers say, that he
spake as never man spake, for his words went through them.

'•He insisted what kind of chambers these were of protection
and safety, and exhorted us all earnestly to dwell in the clefts of
the rock, to hide ourselves in the wounds of Christ, and to wrap
ourselves in the believing application of the promises flowing there-
from ; and to make our refuge under the shadow of His wings, until
these sad calamities pass over, and the dove come back with the olive-
leaf in her mouth. These were the last words of his last semion."

A Cloud of Witnesses.

The following testimony, and those of Walter Smith and James
Boig, are given first, because of their importance, and the high
character and influence of Donald Cargill. With David Hackston
a chronological arrangement begins, which is strictly followed
throughout the volume. — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY
of the Rev. Mr Donald Cargill, sometime Minister
of the Gospel in the Barony Parish of Glasgow, de-
livered by him in Writing before his Execution at the
Cross of Edinburgh, July 27, 1681: —

^v_- "This is the most joyful day that ever I saw in

^ my pilgrimage on earth. My joy is now begun, Avhich

I see shall never be interrupted. I see both my interest and His
truth, and the sureness of the one, and the preciousness of the other.
It is near thirty years since He made it sure ; and since that time,
though there has fallen out much sin, yet I was never out of an
assurance of mine interest, nor long out of sight of His presence.
He has dandled me, and kept me lively, and never left me be-
hind, though I was ofttimes turning back. Oh ! He has showed
the wonderful preciousness of His grace, not only in the first re-
ceiving thereof, but in renewed and multiplied pardons !

" I have been a man of great sins, but He has been a God of
great mercies ; and now, through His mercies, I have a conscience
as sound and quiet as if I had never sinned. It is long since I could
have adventured on eternity, through God's mercy and Christ's
merits ; but death remained somewhat terrible, and that now is
taken away ; and now death is no more to me, but to cast myself
into my husband's arms, and to lie down with Him. And however
it be with me at the last, though I should be straitened by God or
interrupted by men, yet all is sure, and shall be well. I have fol-
lowed holiness, I have taught truth, and I have been most in the
main things ; not that I thought the things concerning our times
little, but that I thought none could do anything to purpose in God's
great and public matters, till they were right in their conditions.

Donald C argil I.

"And O that all had taken this method ! for then there had been
fewer apostacies. The religion of the land, and zeal for the land's
engagements, are come to nothing but a supine, loathsome, and
hateful formality; and there cannot be zeal, liveliness, and rightness,
where people meet with persecution, and want heart-renovation. My
soul trembles to think how little of regeneration there is amongst the
ministers and professors of Scotland. O the ministers of Scotland,
how have they betrayed Christ's interest and beguiled souls ! ' They
have not entered in themselves, and them that were entering in, they
hindered.' Tiiey have sold the things of Christ and liberties of His
Church for a short and cursed quiet to themselves, which is now
near an end ; and they are more one and at peace with God's
enemies, after they have done all their mischiefs, nor [/>., than] they
were at first when they had but put hand to them. And I much
fear, that though there were but one minister on all the earth. He will
make no more use of them ; but there will be a dreadful judgment
upon themselves, and a long curse upon their posterity !

" As to our professors, my counsel to them is, that they would see
well to their own regeneration, for the most part of them have that yet
to do ; and yet, let never one think that he is in the right exercise of
true religion, that has not a zeal to God's public glory. There is a
small remnant in Scotland that my soul has had its greatest comfort
on earth from. I wish your increase in holiness, number, love, reli-
gion, and righteousness ; and wait you, and cease to contend with
these men that are gone from us, for there is nothing that shall
convince them but judgment. Satisfy your consciences, and go for-
ward ; for the nearer you are to God, and the further from all others,
whether stated \i.e., declared] enemies or lukewarm ministers and
professors, it shall be the better.

" My preaching has occasioned persecution, but the want of it
will, I fear, occasion worse. However, I have preached the truths
of God to others, as it is written, ' I believed, and so I preached,'
and I have not an ill conscience in preaching truth, whatever
has followed ; and this day I am to seal with my blood all the
truths that ever I preached ; and what is controverted of that which
I have been professing, shall, ere long, be manifested by God's
judgments in the consciences of men. I had a sweet calmness of
spirit and great submission as to my taking, the providence of God
was so eminent in it ; and I could not but think that God judged
it necessary for His glory to bring me to such an end, seeing He

8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

loosed me from such a work. My soul would be exceedingly
troubled anent the remnant, were it not that I think the time will
be short. V/herefore, hold fast, for this is the way tliat is now
persecuted.

" As to the cause of my suftering, the main is, ' Not acknowledging
the present authority, as it is established in the Supremacy and Ex-
planatory Act.' This is the magistracy that I have rejected, that was
invested with Christ's power. And seeing that this power, taken from
Christ, which is His glory, made the essential of the crown, I thought
it was as if I had seen one wearing my husband's garments after
he had killed him ; and seeing it is made the essential of the crown,
there is no distinction we can make, that can free the conscience of
the acknowledger from being a partaker of this sacrilegious robbing
of God ; and it is but to cheat our consciences to acknowledge the civil
power ; for it is not civil power only that is made of the essence of
his crown. And seeing they are so express, we ought to be plain ;
for otherwise it is to deny our testimony and consent to His robbery."

FTER Mr Cargill was come to the scaffold, standing with his
back towards the ladder, he fixed his eyes upon the multitude,
and desired their attention ; and after singing a part of the
1 1 8th Psalm, from the i6th verse to the close, he looked up to the
windows on both sides of the scaffold with a smiling countenance,
requesting the people to compose themselves and hear a few words
that he had to say, which, said he, "I shall direct to three sorts of
folk, and shall endeavour to be brief : "

^^ First, All you that are going on in persecuting the work and
people of God, O beware for the Lord's sake, and refrain from such
courses, as you would escape wrath eternally, which will be a torment
far beyond what we are to endure by the hands of cniel and bloody
murderers."

Upon this the drums were beaten, at which he smilingly said,
'■ Now ye see we have not liberty to speak, or at least to speak what
we would ; but God knoweth our hearts. But, O ye that are called
ministers and professors in the Church of Scotland, who are wearied
in waiting upon the Lord, and are turned out of His way, and run
into a course of gross defection and backsliding, truly, for my part,
I tremble to think what will become of you ; for either you shall be
punished with sore affliction (I mean in your consciences, because of
sin), or else you shall be tormented eternally without remedy, which

Donald Cargill.

shall be shortly, if mercy prevent it not \ which I pray God may be
the mercy of all these to whom He has thoughts of peace. All ye
that are the poor remnant, who fear sinning more than suffering, and
are begging for His returning into Scotland, to wear His own crown
and reign as King in Zion, in spite of all that will oppose Him,
whether devils or men, I say to you that are thus waiting, wait on,
and ye shall not be disappointed; for either your eyes shall see it,
or else ye shall die in the faith of it, that He shall return, and ' if
you suffer with Him, you shall also reign with Him,' which reign
will be glorious and eternal.

" I come now to tell you for what I am brought here to die, and
to give you an account of my faith, which I shall do as in the sight
of the living (}od before whom I am shortly to stand. First, I declare
I am a Christian, a Protestant, a Presbyterian in my judgment ; and
whatever hath been said of me, I die testifying against Popery, Pre-
lacy, Erastianism, and all manner of defection from the truth of God,
and against all who make not the Scriptures, which are the Word of
God, their rule, that so they may commend Christ and His way to
strangers by a holy and Gospel conversation. I'he cause for which
I am sentenced to die here this day, is my disowning of authority in
the unlawful exercise thereof, when they, instead of ruling for God,
are fighting against Him, and encroaching upon His prerogatives, by
that woful supremacy which my soul abhors, and which I have testi-
fied against since I was apprehended ; and now again I disown all
supremacy over the consciences of men and liberties of Christ's
Church."

Whereupon the drums were again beaten, and he kept silence a
little, and then said : " Of this subject 1 shall say no more. Only
I think the Lord's quarrel against this land is, because there has not
been so much heart religion and soul exercise among either ministers
or professors, as there seemed to be when the land owned Christ and
His truth. I wish there were more true conversion, and then there
would not be so much backsliding, and, for fear of suffering, living
at ease, when there are so few to contend for Christ and His cause.

" Now for my own case, I bless the Lord that, for all that hath
been said of me, my conscience doth not condemn me. I do not
say I am free of sin, but I am at peace with God through a slain
Mediator; and I believe that there is no salvation but only in Christ,
And I abhor that superstitious way of worshipping of angels and
saints contrary unto tlie Word of God ; as also I abhor the leaning

I o A Cloud of Witnesses.

to self-righteousness and Popish penances. I bless the Lord that
these thirty years and more I have been at peace with God, and was
never shaken loose of it ; and now I am as sure of my interest in
Christ and peace with God as all within this Bible and the Spirit of
God can make me ; and I am no more terrified at death, nor afraid
of hell, because of sin, than if I had never had sin ; for all my sins
are freely pardoned and washen thoroughly away, through the pre-
cious blood and intercession of Jesus Christ. And I am fully per-
suaded that this is His way for which I suffer ; and that He will
return gloriously to Scotland, but it will be terrifying to many ;
therefore I entreat you, be not discouraged at the way of Christ and
the cause for which I am to lay down my life, and step into eternity,
where my soul shall be as full of Him as it can desire to be.

" And now, this is the sweetest and most glorious day that ever
my eyes did see. Now I entreat you, study to know and believe the
Scriptures, which are the truths of God ; these I have preached, and
do firmly believe them. Oh ! prepare for judgments, for they shall be
sore and sudden. Enemies are now enraged against the way and
people of God, but erelong they shall be enraged one against another
to their own confusion."

At this the drums were beaten a third time, and being taken
to the north side of the scaftbld, he stood a little during the space
that one of the rest was singing ; and then being carried to the
south side of the scaffold, he prayed. Thence he was brought to the
east side of the scaffold, and there he said, " I entreat you prepare
you presently for a stroke, for God will not sit with \i.e., disregard]
all the wrongs done to Him, but will suddenly come and make
inquisition for the blood that has been shed in Scotland."

Then he was commanded to go up the ladder, and as he set
his foot on it, he said, " The Lord knows I go up this ladder with
less fear and perturbation of mind than ever I entered the pulpit to
preach."

And when he was up, he sat himself down, and said : " Now I
am near to the getting of my crown, which shall be sure ; for I bless
the Lord, and desire all of you to bless Him that He hath brought
me here, and makes me triumph over devils, and men, and sin :
they shall wound me no more. I forgive all men the wrongs they
have done to me, and pray the Lord may forgive all the wrongs that
any of the elect have done against Him. I pray that sufferers may
be kept from sin, and helped to know their duty."

Donald Cargill.

1 1

Then having prayed a little within himself, he lifted up the
napkin and said : " Farewell all relations and friends in Christ ;
farewell acquaintances and all earthly enjoyments ; farewell reading
and preaching, praying and believing, wanderings, reproaches, and
sufferings. Welcome joy unspeakable and full of glory. Welcome
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! into Thy hands I commit my spirit."

Then he prayed a little, and the executioner turned him over
praying.

ECAUSE this dying testimony and last speech are but short,
which was occasioned through want of time and the perse-
cutors' severity, who took his larger testimony from him
the day before he died, paper and ink being conveyed to him
secretly by a cord through the window the night before his death,
it is thought proper to subjoin these following letters of his, they
being all of public concern, to give a more full discovery of the
testimony which he held ; and particularly of his witnessing against
the errors about that time broached by the infamous John Gib, as
the letter written to the prisoners in the Correction House manifests.

LETTER from Mr Donald Cargill to Mr James
Si^ENE, who suffered Martyrdom at Edinburgh. [A
short notice of Mr Skene, with his last Testimony,
will be found in its proper place. — Ed.]

" Dearest Friend, — There is now nothing upon
earth that I am so concerned in, except the Lord's
work, as in you and your fellows ; that you may either
be cleanly brought off, or honourably and rightly carried through.
He is begun in part to answer me ; though not in that which I
most affected, yet in that which is best.

" My soul was refreshed to see any that had so far overcome the
fear and torture of death, and were so far denied to the aflections of
the flesh, as to give full liberty to the exoneration of conscience in the
face of these bloody tyrants and vile apostates. And yet these, by our
divines, must be acknowledged as magistrates ! which very heathens,
endued with the light of nature, would abominate, and would think
it as inconsistent with reason to admit to or continue in magis-

1 2 A CloiLcl of Witnesses.

tracy ; such perjured, bloody, dissolute, and flagitious men, as to
make a wolf the keeper and feeder of the flock. Hut every step
of their dealing with God, with the land, and with yourself and
brethren, is a confirmation of your judgment anenl them, and suffi-
cient ground of your detestation and rejection of them ; and it
is the sin of the land, and of every person in it, that they have not
gone along with you, and these S.g\\ in that action. But since they
have not done that, they shall not now meet with the like honour, if
ever they meet with it, till vengeance be poured out upon them ; and
they and their king shall either be keeped together in wrath or divided
in wrath, that they may be one another's destruction.

" But go on, vaHant champion ; you die not as a fool, though the
apostate, unfaithful, and lukewarm ministers and professors of this
generation think and say so. They shall live traitors, and most part
of them die fools. I say, traitors ; as some men live upon the reward
of treachery, for their quiet and liberty ; if it may be called a liberty,
as it is redeemed with the betraying of the interest of Christ, and
the blood of His people. But He Himself hath sealed your suffer-
ings, and their thus saying condemns God, and His sealing condemns
them. But neither regard their voices, nor fear ; for God will neither
seal to folly nor iniquity. He then not only having sealed your
sufferings, but your remission, go on to finish and perfect your testi-
mony, not only against them, but against all that subject [z>., yield]
to them, side with them, or are silent at them.

" And as for these men that will be our rulers, though they have
nothing of worth or virtue in them ; I am persuaded of this, that none
can appear before them and acknowledge them as they have now
invested themselves ; standing on a foundation of perjury, which is
an act recissory of their admission to the government, with Christ's
crown on their head, and a sceptre of iniquity and a sword of perse-
cution in their hand ; but must deny Christ. And in effect, the whole
land generally hath denied Christ and desired a murderer ; and as
for that unsavoury salt that lately appeared, acknowledged them, and
was ashamed of this testimony, and in so doing gave the first vote
to your condemnation, and proclaimed a lawfulness to the rest of
assizers and murderers to follow in their condemnations, God shall
require this, with his other doings, at his hands ; and I am somewhat
afraid, if he be not suddenly made the subject of serious repentance,
that he shall be made the subject of great vengeance." [The reference
here is to the Rev. John Carstairs, minister of the Inner High Church,

Donald Cargill. i 3

Glasgow, from 1650 to 1662. In 1662 he declined to take the oath
of allegiance without giving an explanation of the sense in wliich he
thought it might be taken, and was imprisoned for several weeks
until his health gave way. After the battle of Pentland, he went over
to Holland, and preached in Rotterdam with great acceptance. In
1672 he returned to Scotland, when he was almost immediately
summoned before the Council, but was set free on finding security
for 2000 merks, />., ;^i20. When Skene was apprehended, some
papers were found on him that brought Carstairs into trouble.
He was summoned before the Council, says Wodrow, where " he
owned the king's authority and that of his courts. With a great
deal of seriousness he disclaimed the follies and principles Mr Skene
and some others now advanced, and said he could not express his
abominating their extremities with vehemency enough." Carstairs
seemed to have lived in retirement. He edited several of the post-
humous works of his former colleague, James Durham, and the one-
volumed edition of Calderwood's History. His son was the well-
known counsellor of William III., Principal Carstairs. — Ed.]

" But forgive and forget all these private injuries, aiid labour to go
to eternity and death with a heart destitute of private revenges, and
filled with zeal to God's glory ; and assign to Him the quarrel against
His enemies, to be followed out by Himself in His own way against
the indignities done to Him, and against the mocking perfidiousness,
impieties, and lukewarmness of this generation.

" And for yourself, whatever there has been either of sin or duty,
remember the one and forget the other, and betake yourself wholly
to the mercy of God and the merit of Christ. Ye know in whom
ye have believed, and the acceptableness of your believing, and the
more fully you henceforth believe, the greater shall be His glory,
and the greater your peace and safety.

" Farewell, dearest friend, never to see one another any more till
at the right hand of Christ. Fear not ; and the God of mercies grant
a full gale and a fair entry into His kingdom, which may carry
sweetly and swiftly over the bar, that you find not the rub of death.
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you.

" Yours in Christ,

"D. C."

A Clozid of Witnesses.

LETTER to some Friends before Mr Donald Cargill
went Abroad.

i^^^j^^' " Dear Friends, — I cannot but be grieved to go

^/'/=\<fe_ from my native land, and especially from that part of
it for whom and with whom I desired only to live ; yet
the dreadful apprehensions I have of what is coming
upon this land may help to make me submissive to this
providence, though more bitter.

" You will have snares for a little, and then a deluge of judg-
ments. I do not speak this to affright any, much less to rejoice
over them, as if I were taken, and they left ; or were studying
by these thoughts to alleviate my own lot of banishment ; though
I am afraid that none shall bless themselves long upon the ac-
count that they are left behind ; but my design is to have you making
yourselves prepared for snares and judgments, that ye may have
both the greatest readiness and the greatest shelters, for both shall be
in one.

" Clear accompts, [/.<?., accounts] and put off the old ; for it is
like, that what is to come will be both sudden and surprising,
that it will not give you time for this. Beware of taking on new
debt. I am afraid, that these things which many are looking on as
favours are but come to bind men together in bundles for a fire.

" I am sure, if these things be embraced, there shall not be "long
time given for using of them ; and this last of their favours and
snares is sent to men, to show that they are that which otherwise
they will not confess themselves to be. Tell all, that the shelter
and benefit of this shall neither be great nor long, but the snare of
it shall be great and prejudicial.

" And for myself, I think for the present He is calling me to
another land ; but how long shall be my abode, or what employ-
ment He has for me there, I know not, for I cannot think He is
taking me there to live and lurk only.

" I rest,

"DONALD CARGILL."

Donald Cargill.

LETTER to John Malcolm and Archibald Alison,
prisoners. \See Note prefixed to their testimonies in a
later part of the volume. — Ed.J

" Dear Friends, — Death in Christ, and for Christ,
is never much to be bemoaned, and less at this time
than any other, when these that survive have nothing
to live among but miseries, persecutions, snares, sor-
rows, and sinning ; and where the only desirable sight, viz., Christ
reigning in a free and flourishing Church, is wanting, and the greatly
grieving and offensive object to devout souls, viz., devils and the
worst of the wicked reigning and raging, is still before our eyes.

" And though we had greater things to leave and better times to
live in, yet eternity does so far exceed and excel these things in
their greatest perfection, that they who see and are sure (and we
see, indeed, being made sure), will never let a tear fall, or a sigh go
at the farewell, but would rather make a slip to get death nor [/.<?.,
than] to shun it ; if both were not equally detestable to them, upon
the account of God's commandments, whom they neither dare nor are
willing to offend, even to obtain Heaven itself. And there are none
who are His, but they must see themselves infinitely advantaged in
the exchange ; and accordingly hasten, if sin, the flesh, and want of
assurance did not withstand. And there is no doubt but these must
be weak and poor spirits, that are bewitched or enchanted either
with the fruition or hopes of the world ; and as earth has nothing to
hold a resolute and reconciled soul, so heaven wants nothing to
draw it ; and to some, to live here has been always wearisome, since
their peace was made, Christ's sweetness known, and their own
weakness and unusefulness experienced. But now it becomes hate-
fully loathsome ; since devils and the worst of men are become the
head, and dreadful, by their stupendous permissions, loosings, and
lengthenings in their reigning ; and friends are become uncomfort-
able ; because they will neither Christianly bear and bide, nor rightly
go forward to effectuate their o\vn delivery.

But for you there is nothing at this time (if you yourselves be
sure with God, which I hope either you are or will be), which can
make me bewail your death ; though the cause of it doth both in-

A Cloud of Witnesses.

CANONGATE TOLBOOTH^ EDINBURGH.

crease my affection to you and indignation against these enemies.
Yet for you, notwithstanding of the unjustness of the sentence, go
not to eternity with indignation against them upon your own account,
neither let the goodness of the cause ye sufter for found [/>., be the
foundation of] your confidence in God and your hope of wellbeing ;
for were the action never so good, and performed without the least
fiiling (which is not incident to human infirmity), it could never be
a cause of obtaining mercy, nor yet commend us to that grace
from which we are to obtain it. There is nothing now which is
yours, when you are pleading and petitioning for mercy, that must
be remembered, but your sins, for in effect there is nothing else
ours.

" Let your sins, then, be on your heart, as your sorrow ; which
we must bewail before we be parted with them, as the captive her
father; not because she was to leave him, but because she had
been so long with him ; and let these mercies of God and merits
of Christ be before your eyes as your hopes, and your winning to
these as the only rock upon whicli we can be saved. If there be
anything seen or looked to in ourselves but sin, we cannot expect
remission and salvation allenarly \i.e., solely] through free grace, in
which expectation only it can be obtained ; neither can we earnestly

Donald Car gill.

THE CROSS, EDINBURGH.

beg, till we see ourselves destitute of all that procures favour, and
full of all that merits and hastens vengeance and wrath.

" And besides, it heightens the price of that precious blood, by
which only we can have redemption from sin and wrath ; it being
tlie only sufficient in itself, and only acceptable to the Father ; and so
it must be, being the blessed and gracious device and result of
infinite wisdom, which makes the eternal God to be admired in His
graciousness and holiness ; having found out the way of His own pay-
ment without our hurt ; and which makes all return to their own
desires, and there to rest in an eternal complacency ; for this way
returns to God His glory, to justice its satisfaction to disquieted
consciences of men, frighted and awakened with the sight of sin and
\\Tath, ease, peace and assurance ; and to the souls of men, fellowship
witli God, and hope of eternal salvation. Now the righteousness of
Christ being made sure to us, secures all this for us, and this truth is
believed and apprehended by faith ; it being the hand by which we
grip this rock ; and if it be true, it cannot but be strong, and we
saved.

" Look well, then, to your faith, that it be a faith growing out of
regeneration, and the new creature, and that it have Christ for its
righteousness, hope, and rejoicmg, and be sealed by the Spirit of God.

A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

And what this sealing is, when it comes, it will abundantly show
itself; and there can be no other full satisfaction to a soul than this.
But seek till ye find, and, whatever ye find for the present, let your
last act be to lay and leave yourselves on the righteousness of His
Son, expecting life through His name, according to the promise of
the Father.

" Dear friends, your work is great, and time short ; but this is a
comfort, and the only comfort in your present condition, that you have
a God infinite in mercy to deal with, who is ready at all times to for-
give, but especially persons in your case, who have been jeoparding
your lives upon the account of the Gospel ; whatever failings or infir-
mities in you that action hath been accompanied with ; for it is the
action itself which is the duty of this whole covenanted kingdom, and
not the failing, for which you are brought to suffering. Seek not then
the favours of men, by making your duty your sin ; but confess your
failings to God, and look for His mercy through Jesus Christ, who has
said, 'Whosoever loseth his life for my sake, shall keep it unto eternal
life.' And though it will profit a reprobate nothing to die after this
manner (for nothing can be profitable without love, which only is, or
can be in a believer), yet it should be no disadvantage, but in a
manner the best way of dying ; for it would take some from his days
that he might have lived, and so prevent many sins that he would
have committed, and so the sin is lessened that is the cause of eternal
sufferings.

" And let not this discourage you, or lay you by [/>., overcome
you], that the work is great, and the time short ; though this indeed
should mind you of your sinful neglect, that you were not better pro-
vided for such a short and peremptory summons, which you should
always have expected. It also shows the greatness of the sin of these
enemies, who not only take away unjustly your bodily life, but also
shorten your time of preparation, and so do their utmost to deprive
you of eternal life. Yet, I say, let not this either discourage or lay
you by, for God can perfect great works in a short time ; and one
of the greatest things that befall men shall be effectuate in the
twinkling of an eye, which is one of the shortest. I assure you.
He put the thief on the cross through all his desires ; conviction,
conversion, justification, sanctification, etc., in short time ; and left
nothing to bemoan, but that there did not remain time enough to
glorify Him upon earth, who had done all these things for liim.

" Go on, then, and let your intent be seriousness. The great-

Donald Cargill. 1 9

ness of your sorrow, and the height of love, in a manner make
a compensation for the shortness of time ; and go on, though ye
yourselves have gone short way ; for where these things are, one hour
will perform more than thousands where there were not either such
enforcements or power ; and be persuaded in this, you have Him as
much and more hastening than yourselves ; for you may know His
motion by your own, they being both set forward by Him. And,
dear friends, be not terrified at the manner of your death, which, to
me, seems to be the easiest of all, where you come to it without pain,
and in perfect judgment, and go through so speedily ; before the pain
be felt, the glory is come ! But pray for a greater measure of His
presence, which only can make a pass through the hardest things
cheerful and pleasant.

" I bid you farewell, expecting, though our parting be sad, our
gathering shall be joyful again. Only our great advantage in the
case you are in is, to credit Him much ; for that is His glory, and
engages Him to perform whatever ye have credited Him with. No
more, but avow boldly to give a full testimony for His truths, as you
desire to be avowed of Him. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you.

"DONALD CARGHX."

LETTER to the Prisoners in the Correction House of
Edinburgh. [These prisoners were twenty-six women,
followers of John Gib, of Borrowstounness, Cargill,
when preaching at Darmead, heard that Gib and his
followers were in the neighbourhood, and, sending for
them, had a long conference with them as to their
opinions. Its sum and substance, according to Patrick
Walker, is contained in the following letter. Gib and
about thirty adherents had forsaken their homes, and had taken up
their abode in the moors, under the persuasion that they would thus
be more free from all snares and sins. Their extravagances attracted
the notice of the government, and in the spring of 1681, they were
taken by a troop of dragoons, and carried to Edinburgh. Gib and
three male associates were imprisoned in the Canongate Tolbooth,
and the twenty-six women in the Correction House, usually filled
with the loose and abandoned of the city. Gib and his male
adherents gave in a statement of their opinions to the Council,

20 A Cloud of Witnesses.

which will be found in Wodrow ; and Donald Cargill seems to have
come to the conclusion that they were so wedded to their errors as
to be irreclaimable. Of the women he entertained better hopes,
and hence sent them the following affectionate appeal. It says
much for his kindness of heart, and for his patient and earnest
desire to reclaim them. His efforts were not without success, for
the greater part of them, according to Patrick Walker, came to their
right mind after they had tasted the bitter fruits of these demented
delusions. Gib himself was shortly after set at liberty, but in 1684
was again apprehended, and banished to America. After a life of
much misery and wretchedness, he died in 1720. — Ed.]

" Dear Friends, — I think ye cannot but know that I am both
concerned and afflicted with your condition, and I would have written
sooner, and more, if I had not feared that you might have been jeal-
ous, under your distempers, that I had been seducing you to follow
me, and not God and truth.

" It had been my earnest and frequent prayer to God, as He
Himself knows, to be led in all truth, and I judge I have been in
this graciously answered ; but I desire none, if they themselves judge
it not to be truth, to adhere to anything that I have either preached,
wTitten, or done, to any hazard, much more to the loss of life.

" But I have been afflicted with your condition, and could not
but be more, if God's great graciousness in this begun discovery,
and your sincerity and singleness, gave me not hope that God's
purpose is to turn this to the great mercy of His poor Church and
yours, if ye mar it not; and yet the great sin, and pillar of Satan,
that is in this snare, makes me tremble. It was God's mercy to you,
that gave you such convictions ; that made you, at least some of you,
once to part with these men. And it was undoubtedly your sin, that
you continued not so ; but after convictions, did cast yourselves in
new temptations ; for convictions ought to be tenderly guided, lest
the Spirit be grieved, from whom they come ; but this second discovery,
though it be with a sharper rebuke, as it makes God's mercy wonder-
ful, so it shall render your perseverance in that course sinful and
utterly inexcusable ; for God has broken the snare ; and it will be
your great sin, if you go not out with great haste, joy, and thank-
fulness, when God's wonderful discovery has made such a way for
your delivery. For God, having now shown you the ringleaders and
authors of these opinions to be persons of such abominations, calls

Donald Car gill. 2 1

you not only to deny credit to them, but also to make a serious search
of their tenets ; which will, I know, by His grace, bring you undoubt-
edly to see, that these things are contrary both to God's glory and
truth, that they so much pretend to.

" And now, dear friends, I cannot be tender enough of you, who
in your zeal and singleness have been misled. For though this did
bewray a great simplicity and unwatchfulness, yet it did also betoken
some zeal and tenderness ; that being beguiled, it was in things that
were veiled and busked \i.e., adorned] with some pretence to God's
glory, and public reformation. And on the other hand, I cannot
have great enough abhorrence of the persons, who, knowing them-
selves to be of such abominations, did give out themselves to be of
such familiarity with God, and of so clear illumination, to make their
delusions more passing with devout souls. Let nothing make you
think this is malignity, or natural enmity against the power of Godli-
ness, or progress in reformation, that is venting itself in me : For
though I cannot win [/.<?., get] forward as I ought, yet I have rejoiced
to see others go forward.

" And I am sure, there lies in this bed within you, a viper and
a child. Satan, transforming himself into an angel of light, has
put these two together, to make it passing with some, and to be
spared of others who are of tenderness. But my soul's desire is,
to kill the serpent and keep the child alive ; and God is calling
you loudly to sever the good from the bad, that the wit of Satan's
subtilty has mixed together, and to deliver yourselves speedily, as
a roe from the hand of the hunter : and not only return, but bitterly
mourn for your high provoking of God, in offering such foul sacri-
fices to His glory, and sewing your old clouts upon that new gar-
ment ; in your making the enemy more to despise that cause and
company who are enough despised already, and discouraging those
who were following and going forward with you in that which was
right ; so that now, neither have they heart nor hand for the work,
nor can they look out till God recover them again.

" There is much in the whole of this, that may, and does weight
and overwhelm some spirits : but there is nothing in all their cogi-
tations about it that they find comfortable ; unless it be, that He is
cleared in afflicting us, and continuing to afflict, because there were
such persons among us. I speak this but of some of you, and be-
loved by us, though ignorantly ; and we wish that this be the last
and great stop that was to be removed, before His coming to re-

A Cloud of Witnesses.

venge Himself, and reign. I would not say but by this also He
showed His tenderness, of preserving integrity of doctrine, and
sound reformation, and His purpose not to suffer errors and heresies
to prosper.

" This I told you, when I met with you, that there were some
things ye were owning which were highly approved of God ; such
as, an inward heart-love and zeal to God's glory, which I perceived
to be in some of you, so far as it can be perceived ; and setting up
that before you, as your end, in pursuing it always as your work, and
a forgetting of all other things in regard of it ; excepting only these
things without which we cannot glorify Him ; as a workman that in-
tends his work must mind his tools ; even our own salvation, and the
salvation of all others, as if they were not things wherein He is greatly
glorified ; for His glory is in righteousness and mercy, and in, and by
these, is the salvation of man infallibly advanced, and to these it is
inseparably connected.

" Next, I would advise you to set apart more, yea, much more of
your time, for humiliation, fasting, and prayer, in such an exigence,
when the judgments of God appear to be so near and so great ; so
that it be done without sin ; for God cannot be glorified by sin, ' for
if my lie hath more abounded to His glory, why am I judged as a
sinner ?' I was against such as deny nature, and others their right
dues ; for He that allows dues to others, allows them to be paid also.
And we must be like prisoners, who are of great debt and honest
hearts, who know they cannot pay every one their full sums, yet are
resolved to give every one some, and to the greatest most, and to the
rest accordingly. And as there cannot be a total abstinence from
meat without self-murder, so there cannot be a total denying others
their dues, such as the benevolence of husband to wife, and a total
abstaining from work, without a transgression of God's command-
ments and laws ; which can never be a glorifying of Him ; which the
more impartially they are kept, the more He is glorified.

" Next, ways are allowed of Him, that ye may make yourselves
free, so much as in you lies, of all the public defections, whatever
may involve you in these, or contribute to their upholding, without
either an overpowering force, or an indispensable necessity ; for I
may buy meat and drink in necessity, whatever use the seller make
of that money I give for my meat and drink.

" Next, He allows these particulars of reformation, such as change
of the names of days, of weeks, of terms of the year, and such like.

Donald Cargill. 23

warranted by the word and example of the Christians in Scripture,
that ha^'e been neglected before in our reformation ; so that there be
not too much religion placed in these things, and other things more
weighty, which undoubtedly have more moral righteousness in them,
made little in regard of them ; but in these good things Satan will
quickly (if it be not already), over-drive you in your progress, and
leave you only to hug a spurious birth.

" But there are other things that ye maintained when I spoke
with you (and the viper has more since appeared), as truths and parts
of God's glory, that are utterly contrary to, and inconsistent with the
glory of God. As first, laying aside of public preaching, some of
them saying no less, nor [/>., than that] they had no missing of it; so
that ye thought, ' Ye had reigned as kings without us, and would to
God ye had reigned.' Your flourishing should have delighted, though
we had not been the instruments and means thereof But, alas ! this
your liberty, that you so much bragged of, would have lasted but a
little while, and was among your other beguiles, and was nothing else
but Satan stirring you about to giddiness, and raising of fantastic
fumes to the tickling of the imagination, but leaving you altogether
without renovation of heart, or progress in sanctification ; so that I
cannot compare this your libert}'^ to anything else, but to an en-
chanted fabric ; where the poor guests, only placed in imagination,
imagine themselves to be in a pleasant place, and at royal entertain-
ment ; but when God comes, and delusion evanisheth, they will find
themselves cast in some remote wilderness, and left full of astonish-
ment and fears.

" I told you, while I was with you, that the devil was sowing tares
amongst your thin wheat ; but I was not long from you, exercised in
thoughts about you, but I saw clearly there was sorcery in your busi-
ness ; and now, I tell you, I fear sorcerers also. I know I have
spoken this against my own life, if they get the power they desire ;
but I am in a defiance of them, and I know also in a defence by
Him who hath preserved, and I know will preserve me, till my work
be finished. But if your liberty that you talked of had been true, it
would at least have stayed till it had brought you to other thoughts,
other works, and other comforts ; and it might have been easily dis-
cerned not a true liberty, but a temptation that led you from public
preaching, the great ordinance of God's glory and men's good ; as
the apostle has that word, ' forbidding us to preach to the Gentiles ;'
but especially to leave public ordinances at this time, when they are

24 A Cloud of Witnesses.

the only standards standing which shows Satan's victory against
Christ's kingdom in Scotland not to be complete.

"Yet, dear friends, when you hear this, let not Satan cast you as
far to the other side, for it is rare to see the most devout souls alto-
gether out from under his delusions and temptations, as to make you
believe that it is impossible to attain unto anything of certitude of
truth, liberty, manifestations, and communion with God, if that
which seemed to be so firm be delusions. But shall Satan have such
power to make men believe lies, and shall not God go infinitely
beyond him, in making men to see and believe truth ? There were
many that thought themselves at the height of assurance, when under
the greatest temptations — as Psalm Ixxiii,, 'Verily 1 have cleansed
my hands in vain ; ' and yet they have a greater certainty when
they come to see that there is no such unquietness of spirit under
this, as they found in the former. And seeing it is so, rest not till
ye attain that assurance of your own interest, and of His main truths,
which is both above doubt and defect, that ye may be able to say,
' Now we believe, and are sure.'

" But m the next place, ye will join with none in public worship, but
those who have infallible signs of regeneration. This seems fair, but
it is both false and foul. False, because of its false foundation, viz.,
that the certainty of one's interest in Christ may be known by an-
other. Whereas the Scripture says, ' That none knows it, but he that
has it.' Foul also, for this disdain has pride in it, and pride is always
foul ; and though there be a difference amongst men, and though
we should have regard of repentance and brokenness of heart, yet
those who have well fought and seen their own filthiness, will judge
themselves the persons of any that should be thrust out of the
assemblies of God's ]Deople, and that not only in regard of what they
have been, but also in regard of what they daily are.

" Next, ye would have all to be prayed to eternal wrath, who have
departed and made defection in this time. Alas ! we need not blow
them away ; the great part is going fast enough that way ; but this, I
am sure, is not to give God His glory, but to take from Him, and
limit Him in His freedom and choice in the greatness of His pardon.
It is remarkable that the angels, in their glor)^ to God, joined also
with it good-will to men.

" Next, you have rejected the Psalms, with many other things, by
a paper come from some of you; and I cannot see upon what account ;
except it be, because it is man's work, in turning the Psalms out of

Dofiald Car gill. 25

prose into metre. Then ye must reject all the other Scriptures,
because the translation of them is of man's work ; ye have not yet
learned the original languages ; ye must betake yourselves altogether
to the Spirit, and what a spirit will that be, that is not to be tried by
the Scriptures ? I told some of you, when I last saw you, that ye
were too litde led by the Scriptures, and too much by your own
thoughts and suggestions ; which, indeed, opens a wide door to delu-
sion, and alas ! lays yourselves open to Satan's temptations.

" As for the rest of your denying all your former covenants and
declarations, this cannot be from God, they containing nothing but
lawful and necessary duties ; and, suppose they did not contain and
include a complete reformation, yet they did not exclude it ; so that
still holding them, we might have passed on to more perfection, and
they might be inviolable obligations with us.

"And next, your cutting off all that were not of your mind, and
delivering them up to devils, was not justice and religion ; it being
done neither in judgment nor righteousness, upon conviction of their
crimes, but in unbridled rage and fury. But these things I cannot
fully speak to now ; yet there is somewhat that I cannot pass,
but must tell you, that I fear there shall remain some of the leaven
within, which shall not only spoil an orthodox Protestant, but also a
true, tender, and humble Christian, and give us nothing instead of
it but a blown bladder ; for I am persuaded, if Satan should have the
tutory but a while, he should bring it to this ; for it has been his way
with some — first, to make them saint-like, and afterwards to settle
them at atheism ; like a cunning fisher, running a fish upon an angle,
who at last casts it on dry ground. God is my witness, my soul
loves to see holiness, tenderness, and zeal in such a generation,
where there is nothing but untenderness, unconcernedness, and
lukewarmness ; and, by His grace, I shall ever cherish it.

"I desire you then, in the bowels of Christ, to retain your zeal;
but see well to this, that it be for His glory. Indeed, the more ye
are zealous, and the further ye go forward, so that the word of God
direct your course, ye are the more pleasing to God, and shall be the
dearer to us. And persuade yourselves, that though I cannot equal
or go before, yet it is the sincere desire of my heart to follow such.
And my soul wishes you well, though, it may be, 1 cannot here point
nor lead you the way to well-being ; yet this I must say, that if I
could lead you the way that He has led me, I should let you see
eternal life, without these things that I am desiring you to relinquish.

4 Cloitd of Witnesses.

" Hold truth, glorify God, be zealous to have Him glorified ; but
think not to desire the condemnation of any man, simply on that
account, that they dare not come and continue where you are ; or
that to put a bar by prayer between them and a return, is a
glorifying of God. We glorify Him in this kind, when, as He Him-
self desires, we acquiesce in His sentence when it is past, though we
wrestle against it before it be known to us.

" I cannot bid you go forward in all, l)ut I desire you to go forward
in that which is surer and better. And dear friends, let not the
world have it to say, that when ye are become right, ye are become
the less zealous ; only take the right object, and let your zeal grow.
O let not your sufferings be stained with such wildness ; and think it
not strange that ye have not such liberty in your return, as ye seemed
to have before ; if you take the right way, and hold on, ye shall find
it, in His time, greater, and better, and surer.

" I shall only add, that there must be an express disowning of
your errors and evils, and an express owning of His truths ; whereof
ye have been persuaded before now, but which now are either denied
or doubted ; otherwise you will come to nothing of religion, or worse ;
this will either state your sufferings right, or be a mean to obtain a
cleanly liberty from God in His due time. Grace, mercy, and peace
be with you. Amen !

"DONALD CARGILL."

Walter Smith.

ALTER SMITH was a devoted follower of Mr Donald
Cargill ; he was taken at the same time, and suffered along
with him. Patrick AValker has a life of him ; " A Short
Account of the life and death of that truly pious and worthy minis-
ter, Mr Walter Smith," etc. In substance, it is in John Howie's
" Scots Wordiies." The work, " Steps of Defection," referred to in
the following testimony, is given by Walker ; also, " Rules and

Walter Smith. 2 7

Directions anent private Christian Meetings ; " together with a letter
written by him when he was studying at Utrecht, to Janet Fimerton,
a singular Christian, of deep exercises, high attainments, and great
experience in the serious exercise and solid practice of godliness.
The letter is a very excellent one, and speaks much for Smith's
piety and Christian knowledge.

Two books are specified in Walter Smith's testimony —

1. " The book which contains the Confession of Faith," etc. This
is the volume that in Scotland usually bears the title of. the Confession
of Faith, although it includes the Catechisms, the Covenants, the Direc-
tory for Worship, and the Sum of Saving Knowledge. It is not known
by what authority the Sum of Saving Knowledge has been put along
with the others, for it has never been sanctioned by the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The " Causes of God's Wrath "
seems to have been bound up in the same volume in Smith's time.
Wodrow assigns its authorship to James Guthrie of Stirling, who
suffered at Edinburgh, June ist, 1661. The first words of the full
title fix its nature and date : " Some General Heads of the Causes
why the Lord contends with the land, agreed upon, after seeking of
the Lord, by the Commission of the General Assembly 1650, with
the advice of divers ministers from several parts of the kingdom,
met at Edinburgh 165 1." One of the steps of defection from the
Covenant mentioned is, " The authorising of commissioners to close
a treaty with the King for the investing him with the government,
upon his subscribing such demands as were sent to him, after he had
given many clear evidences of his disaffection and enmity to the
work and people of God, and was continuing in the same." The
" Causes" was condemned, along with Rutherford's " Lex Rex," in
a proclamation by the Committee of Estates, dated September 19,
i66o, and both were burnt, October 17 th, at Edinburgh, by the hand
of the hangman. " No doubt," says Wodrow, " by order of the Com-
mitee, though I do not observe any clause for this in the proclama-
tion. It was much easier to burn those books than to answer the
reasonings and facts in them." The " Causes" is now somewhat
rare. It occupies eighty-five pages in Henderson's collection of
tracts, entitled "Testimony-bearing Exemplified," i2mo, Paisley,
1791.

2. Shepard's " Sound Believer." Thomas Shepard was a native
of Northampton ; but went out in 1635 to New England, and was
speedily settled at Cambridge, where he was the chief means of erect-

A Cloud of Witnesses.

ing and endowing the well-known Harvard College, an institution that
in this century has renounced the opinions of its founders, and become
the chief seat of unitarian error. Shepard was an able and successful
Gospel minister. His works, comprising twenty different publications,
have been lately collected. He is best known on this side the Atlantic,
by his " Parable of the Ten Virgins ; " and his " Sound Believer," a
treatise on evangelical conversion ; both of which have been fre-
quently reprinted in this country. — Ed.]

^^-•♦•--^

HE DYING TESTIMONY AND LAST WORDS
of Mr Walter Smith, Student of Theology, who
suffered at the Cross of Edinburgh, July 27, 1681 : —

" Dear Friends and Acquaintances, — As I desire,
while in the body, to sympathise somewhat with you,
in lamenting your various cases, and the case of the
Church, whereof we are the sons and daughters ; so
I must lay this request upon you, and leave it with you, that ye
take some of your time, and set it apart particularly to solace your
souls, in blessing and magnifying your God and my God, for the lot
He hath decreed and chosen out for poor unworthy me, from eternity,
in time, and to eternity ; in the immediate enjoyment of Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, incomprehensible and unchange-
able in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and
truth ; and that, because He hath made me a man and a Christian.
And now I set to my seal to all His truths revealed in His word,
and particularly these :

" First, That He is one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But
alas ! who can think of Him ? who can hear of Him, or write of Him
aright ? Oh ! He is God ! He is God !

" Secofid/y, That He made man perfect. And though we have
destroyed and incapacitated ourselves to do anything that is right,
while out of Christ, yet we are under the obligation of tlie whole law,
which is the perfect rule of righteousness.

" Thirdly, That my Lord (yea, through free grace I can say,
my Lord Jesus Christ), came to the world to save sinners. And,

Walter Sfiiit/i. 29

though I cannot say that I have been the greatest of sinners, yet
I can say, that He hath covered, pardoned, prevented, and hid
from the world, sins in me that have been heinous by many aggra-
vations.

" Fourthly, That except a man be born again, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of heaven. My friends, this is the new birth, this is
regeneration that 1 am speaking of, to which the great part, even of
professors, I fear, Avill be found strangers.

" Fifthly, I set to my seal to the truth of that precious promise,
Josh. i. 5, etc. ; repeated, Heb. xiii. 5 : ' For He hath said, I will
never leave thee nor forsake thee,' together with all the other pro-
mises to that purpose ; and, I am sure, He hath carried me through
divers conditions of life, many various and singular difficulties, and
damping discouragements. But omitting these things, whereof the
profane persecutors may as much boast as to the outward as any,
He hath led me through the several steps of soul exercise, and the
pangs of the new birth, into Himself This, this, my friends, is the
cognisance and distinguishing character of a saint indeed ; and by
this, and this only, we pass from death to life.

"And, as I adhere to the Confession of Faith and work of re-
formation (as I shall afterwards speak to), so particularly, I set to
my seal to these truths, in the xviii. chapter thereof, anent the assur-
ance of grace and salvation. Alas ! the ignorance of this generation
is great. My dear friends, I leave this as my last advice to you,
make use of that book which contains the Confession of Faith,
Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Practical Use of Saving
Knowledge, Directory for Worship, the Causes of God's Wrath, etc.
And let none think this work below them ; for the spiritual enlighten-
ing of the mind, which requires the literal with it, is the first work of
the Spirit, after we first begin to come to ourselves, or rather to what
we were in innocency, and ought to be by grace. But as to this, I do
confidently refer you to Shepard's ' Sound Believer,' which, in my
poor apprehension, is the soundest and surest ye can meet with.

" And Sixthly, I set to my seal to the Covenant of Grace, particu-
larly that clause of it (Isa. lix. 21), ' As for me, this is my covenant
with them, saith the Lord; my spirit that is upon thee,' etc. And here
I leave my testimony against all atheists, speculative (if there be any
such) and practical, and all mockers at godliness, all formalists and
hypocrites, Quakers and enthusiasts, who either pretend to the Spirit,
neglecting the word, or lean upon the word, neglecting the teaching of

30 A Cloud of Witnesses.

the Spirit. And what shall I more say, but by what of truth I have
in experience seen, I am bold to believe what I have not seen ; His
testimony is a ground sufticient, and there can be no deceit under it.

" And now I am to die a martyr; and I am as fully persuaded of
my interest in Christ, and that He hath countenanced me in that for
which I am to lay down my life, as I am of my being. And let the
world and biassed professors say their pleasures, I am here in no de-
lusion. I have the free and full exercise of reason and judgment ; I
am free of passion and prejudice, and, excepting that I am yet in the
body, I am free of Satan's fire and fury. I have no bitterness nor
malice at any living, so that what I am owning and dying for, I am
solidly and firmly persuaded to be truth and duty, according to my
mean capacity. And this is the main point this day in controversy,
upon which I was peremptorily questioned, and desired positively
to answer, yea or nay, under the threatening of the Boots, viz.:
Whether I owned the King's authority as presently established and
exercised ; which I did positively disown, and denied allegiance to
him, as he is invested with that supremacy proper to Christ Jesus
only. And who knoweth not that at first he v/as constituted and
crowned a covenanted King, and the subjects sworn in allegiance to
him, as such, by the Solemn League and Covenant? This was the
authority wherewith he was clothed ; and the exercise of it was to be
for God, religion, and the good of the subjects. And is not all this,
as to God and His people, overturned and perverted ? But secondly.
The whole of this pleaded-for authority at present, is established on
the ruin of the land's engagements to God, and to one another. But
I say no more as to this. Consider things seriously, and ponder them
deeply ; zeal for God is much gone. Look to it, and labour to re-
cover it \ your peace shall be in it, as to duty ; though Christ's
righteousness, I see, is the only sure foundation.

" I leave my testimony against malignancy, ungodliness, and pro-
fanity, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, professed and
owned by the reformed anti-erastian presbyterian party in Scotland,
whereof I die a member and professor, being fully satisfied and con-
tent with my lot. And as to my apprehending ; we were singularly
delivered by Providence into the adversaries' hand, and, for what I
could learn, were betrayed by none, nor were any accessory to our
taking, more than we were ourselves ; and particularly let none blame
the Lady St John's Kirk in this. [It was the lady St John's Kirk who
persuaded Smith and Boig, against Cargill's judgment, to leave the

Walter Smith. 3 1

house where Cargill would have passed the night, and go to Coving-
ton Mill, where all three were taken. Patrick Walker blames her
very much. — Ed.] I have no time to give you an account of the
Lord's kindness and tenderness to us, in restraining the adversaries'
fury. For they began very brisk, by making us lie all night bound,
and expressly refused to suffer us to worship God, or pray with one
another, until we came to Linlithgow. But the Lord hasteneth to
come. Beware of going back. Wait for Him. Be not anxious about
what shall become of you, or the remnant. He is concerned ; His
intercession is sufficient. Get Him set up, and kept up in His own
room in your souls, and other things will be the more easily kept in
theirs. Be tender of all who have the root of the matter, but beware
of compliance with any, whether ministers, or professors, or adversaries.

" As to my judgment, insignificant as it is, I am necessitate to
refer you to the draught of a paper which I drew at the desire of some
societies in Clydesdale, entitled, ' Some Steps of Defection,' etc.
Beware of a spirit of bitterness, peremptoriness, and ignorant zeal,
which hath been the ruin of some, and will be the ruin of more, if
mercy prevent not. I was withdrawn from by some, as having given
offence to them by my protesting against their way in a particular,
wherein I am sure as to the manner they were wrong \ and though
they had been right, it was not a ground to have made such a sepa-
ration from me, much less from those who joined with me. And if
any division be longer kept up upon that account, they will find it a
great iniquity, if rightly considered.

" I can get no more written, nor see I great need for it ; for the
testimonies of martyrs are not your rule. Farewell.

"From the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, July 27, 1681.
" Sic subscribitur,

" WALTER SMITH."

EING come to the scaffold, Walter Smith accosted the multi-
tude to this purpose : " All ye beholders who are come
here upon various designs, I entreat you, be not mistaken
anent the cause of our suffering this day; for however ye may be
misinformed, yet it is of verity that we are brought here upon the
matters of our God ; because we testified against the supremacy, and
would not consent to the setting of Christ's crown upon the head of
him who had by usurpation aspired thereto, contrary to his former
engagements."

I Cloud of IViiuesses.

Upon this they caused beat the drums, which obliged him a little
to silence ; but, beckoning with his hand, he said, " I shall only say
something to three particulars : Ax\^ Jirst, Anent that which some are
apt to believe, that we are against authority ; but we detest that, and
say that we own all the lawful exercise of authority ; and we hope
there are none that are Christians who will allow us to own the un-
lawful exercise, or rather tyranny of authority."

At this the drums were again beat, and so he sung a part of tlie
103d Psalm from the beginning, and prayed; which done, he turned
his face to the Cross, and said, " I bless the Lord I am not sur-
prised, neither terrified, with this death, or the manner of it. I
confess the thoughts of death have been sometimes very terrible
to me, when I have been reflecting upon my misspending of pre-
cious time ; yea, sometimes the strength of temptation, and my
own weakness, have made me herein to raze the very foundation
of my interest; but my God builds faster than He permits the
devil and my false heart to cast down. I have had some clouds
even since I came to prison ; but blessed be (iod, these are all re-
moved ; for my God hath said to my soul, ' Be of good cheer, thy
sins are forgiven thee.' And the faith of this makes me not to fear
grim death, though it be called the king of terrors, yet it is not so to
me ; for this that you think a cruel and sudden death, is but an inlet

Walter Smith. 33

to life, which shall be eternal. Let none be offended at Christ and
His way, because of suffering ; for I can persuade you there is more
of Christ's help, and supporting grace, and strength, in a suffering lot,
than all that ever I heard of by the hearing of the ear. But now I
am made to find it in my own experience ; and I can say, ' He is
altogether lovely.'

" But a second thing that I promised to speak to is, that 1 detest
and abhor all popery, prelacy, erastianisni, and all other steps of
defection from the truths of God, and turning aside to the right
and left hand. Also, I testify against all errors, as Quakerism, Ar-
minianism, and all that is contrary to sound doctrine ; who walk not
according to the Scriptures, and make not the Word and Spirit of
God their rule to walk by. I have lived, and now am ready to die, a
Christian, a Protestant, and a Presbyterian in my judgment ; there-
fore let none hereafter say that we walk not by the Scriptures, for
once Britain and Ireland, and especially Scotland, were deeply sworn
to maintain what now they disown ; therefore beware of standing in
the way of others, seeing ye will not go in yourselves.

" Thirdly, I exhort all you that are the poor remnant, to be serious
in getting your interest cleared ; you that are in the dark with your case,
take not flashes for conversion ; study a holy conversation. Be at
more pains to know the Scriptures, and believe them. Be serious in
prayer. Slight not time. Take Clnist in His own terms, and resolve
to meet with trials, and that shortly. Slight not known duties : com-
mit not known sins, whatever suffering ye may meet with for your
cleaving to duty. Lippen [?>., trust] to God, and you will not be
disappointed. Construct well of Him under all dispensations.
Weary not of suffering. Lie not at ease in a day of Jacob's trouble.

" I have one word more to speak, to all that are going on in per-
secuting the way and friends of Christ, and it is in the very words
of our Lord ; remember, ' Whatever ye do to one of these little ones,
ye do it unto Me.' I pray the Lord that He may open the eyes of
all the elect, who are yet strangers to regeneration, and also convince
such of them as are fallen from their first love.

" Now, my friends, I have this to say in my own vindication, that
however I have been branded by some, and misconstrued by others,
yet I can say in the sight of the Lord, before whom I am now to
appear, that I am free of any public scandal ; I say I am free of
drunkenness, I am free of whoredom, thefts, or murder ; therefore,
let none say that we are murderers, or would kill any, but in self-

34 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

defence, and in defence of the Gospel. I truly forgive all men the
wrongs they have done to me, as I desire to be forgiven of the Lord ;
but as for the wrongs done to a holy God, I leave these to Him who
is the avenger of blood ; let Him do to them as He may be glorified.
Now, I say no more, but pray that all who are in His way may be
kept from sinning under suffering, and that every one may prepare
for a storm, which I do verily believe is not far off."

Then stooping down, he saluted some friends, and said, " Fare-
well all relations and acquaintances ; farewell all ye that are lovers
of Christ and His righteous cause." And beckoning to the multi-
tude, he said " Farewell also." And so he went up the ladder with
the greatest discoveries of alacrity and magnanimity, and seating
himself upon it, he said, " Now, this death of mine I fear not, for my
sins are freely pardoned ; yea, and I shall sin no more, for I am
made, through my God, to look hell, wrath, devils, and sin eternally
out of countenance. Therefore, farewell all created enjoyments,
pleasures, and delights : farewell sinning and suffering ; farewell
praying and believing, and welcome heaven and singing. Welcome
joy in the Holy Ghost ; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; into
thy hands I commend my spirit."

When the executioner was about to untie his cravat, he thrust
him away, and untied it himself, and, calling for his brother, threw
it down, saying, " This is the last token you will get from me."
After the napkin was drawn over his face he uncovered it again,
and said, " I have one word more to say, and that is, to all that
have any love to God, and His righteous cause, that they will set
time apart, and sing a song of praise to the Lord for what He has
done to my soul, and my soul says, to Him be praise." Then let-
ting down the napkin, he prayed a little within himself, and the
executioner doing his office, threw him over.

James Boig.

ITTLE is known of James Boig than that he was son to a
Mr James Boig, merchant in P^dinburgh. His testimony is
a well written document, in keeping with liis character as a
student of theology. Wodrow records that "both he and Mr Smith
died under much comfort, joy, and full assurance." The Sanquhar
Declaration mentioned in his testimony was published by about
twenty persons gathered together at Sanquhar, June 22, 1680, when
Michael Cameron read it, and left a copy affixed to the Cross. It
was the first public statement in which allegiance to Charles II. was
renounced, because of the supremacy he claimed over the Church.
It is appended to the Informatory Vindication, which contains an
explanation and defence of this Declaration by Renwick. Wodrow,
in his History, gives a kindly plea for its authors, written by " a
very worthy Presbyterian minister lately got to the joy of the
Lord." The Sanquhar Declaration roused the Government to fury.
A counter proclamation was issued, declaring it to be " a most
treasonable and unparallelled paper," and offering 5000 merks for
Richard Cameron, 3000 merks for Douglas, Cargill, and Michael
Cameron, and looo for each one of the traitors, dead or alive, to
be instantly paid to their captors.

The Queensferry paper, referred to in this and several of the
following testimonies, was said to have been found upon Henry Hall
of Haughhead, June 3, 1680. It was unsubscribed, was evidently
an imperfect draught, and was never, as whole, owned by the so-
cieties. Hall was waiting for an opportunity to go over to Holland
with it when he was captured. Though incomplete, it is yet an able
document, and asserts in bold prominence a doctrine that must have
been specially unpalatable to Charles II. and the debauchees asso-
ciated with him — the absolute necessity of moral character in a
ruler, be his office what it may. The paper is in Wodrow, and the
tenor of it is given in the appendix to this work. — Ed.]

A Cloud of Witnesses.

QUKENSKEkRY.

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Mr James Boig, Student
of Theology, who suffered at the Cross of Edinburgh,
'/ July 27, 1 68 1, written in a letter to his brother : —

" Dear Brother, — I have not now time to write
that Avhich I would ; but to satisfy your desire, and
the desire of others, who are concerned in the cause
and work of God, that is now at this time trampled
upon, I have given out my indictment to a friend of yours,
and now I shall give you an account of the enemies' prosecution
thereof against us.

" My indictment did run upon three heads- —
" I. That 1 had disowned the King's authority;
" 2. That I said, the rising in arms at Bothwell Bridge was lawful,
and upon the defence of truth ;

" 3. That I owned the Sanquhar Declaration in the whole heads
and articles thereof And ha\^ing again owned this before the Jus-
ticiary and Assizers [/>., the Jury], I held my peace, and spake no
more, because I saw what was spoken by others was not regarded,
either by our unjust judges or mocking auditors. All that our speak-
ing did, was the exposing of us to the mockery of all present.

y antes Boig. 37

" But the reasons that were given in thus, for our defence in the first
head were — That we could not own the authority, as now presently
established, unless we should also own the Supremacy which the King
hath usurped over the Church. By our doing of this, we should rob
Christ of that which is His right ; and give that unto a man, which is
due to no mortal. The reason is, because the Supremacy is declared
in their Acts of Parliament to be essential to the crown ; and that
which is essential to anything, is the same with the thing itself ; so
that in owning the authority, we are of necessity obliged to justify
them in their usurpation also. But there is another argument, which
to me is valid, though I spoke it not before them, and it does not a
little trouble me that I should have passed it. The Advocate, in his
discourse to the assizers among other things, said, that we were over-
turning these acts and laws which they, the assizers, had consented
to, and were owning. Now, I suppose cheir consent to the present
acts and laws was never formally required of them, but that which is
taken for their consent is their simple silence, when these acts were
made and published, and owning these Parliaments as their repre-
sentatives ; so that 1 may clearly argue from this, that, even in their
own sense, my owning of the present authority now established as
lawful, and the present magistrates as my magistrates, is a giving my
consent to the present acts and laws, and so consequently to the
robbing of Christ of that which is His right.

" As to the second, it being but one particular fact, deduced from
that principle of the lawfulness of self-defence, and this principle
being as positively asserted by all of us, I look upon the principle to
be as expressly sealed with our blood, as that particular fact of rising
in arms at Bothwell Bridge is.

" As to the third, it being a deed consequential from the first, I
looked upon them both to stand and fall together; and he that
owneth the first, must of necessity own the last also.

" And as to that of declaring of war, I did always look upon it to
be one and the same, though differently expressed, with that con-
tained in the paper found at the Queensferry ; and that the mam
design of it was to vindicate us before the world in our repelling
unjust violence, and clearing us of these aspersions that were cast
upon us, viz., the holding, as a principle, the lawfulness of private
assassinations (which we disown), and murdering all those who are
not of the same judgment with us.

" These are the truths which we are to seal Avith our blood, to-

38 A Cloud of Witnesses.

morrow, in the afternoon, at the Cross of Edinburgh. As to other
particular actions, we decUned to answer positively to them, as that
of the Archbishop [Sharp's] death. We told them that we could not
be judges of other men's actions. As to the excommunication [at
the Torwood], because we declined them, as not competent judges, to
cognosce upon an ecclesiastic matter, they did not proceed upon it.

" And now, dear brother, you may see our quarrel clearly stated
to be the same that Mr James Guthrie laid down his head for ; beside
whose, mine and my other two friends' heads are to be set. There
were many other things passed in private betwixt me and Mr William
Paterson (sometime my regent, now Council Clerk), with some others
who strongly assaulted me with their snares ; but now I hope I may
say, that ' my soul hath escaped like a bird out of the snare of the
fowler.'

" And as to your second desire, of knowing how it went with
my soul. Many and strong have been the assaults of Satan since I
came to prison ; but glory to God, who hath not been wanting to me
in giving me assistance, yea, many times unsought \ and He is yet
continuing, and I hope shall do to the end, to carry me above the fear
of death, so that I am in as sweet a calm, as if I were going to be
married to one dearly beloved. Alas I my cold heart is not able to
answer His burning love j but what is wanting in me is, and shall be,
made up in a Saviour complete and well furnished in all things,
appointed of the Father for this end, to bring His straying children
to their own home, whereof (I think I may adventure to say it) I am
one, though feckless [/.<:., worthless].

" Now, I have no time to enlarge, else I would give you a more
particular account of God's goodness and dealing with me \ but let
this suffice, that I am once fairly on the way, and within the view of
Immanuel's land, and in hopes to be received an inhabitant there
within the space of twenty-six hours at most. Farewell all earthly
comforts, farewell all worldly vanities, farewell all carnal desires ;
welcome cross, welcome gallows, welcome Christ, welcome heaven
and everlasting happiness.

" 1 have no more spare time. Grace, mercy, and peace be with
you. Amen.

" From Edinburgh Tolbooth, July 27, 1681.
" Sic stibscribitur,

"JAMES BOIG."

David Hackston.

AVID HACKSTON, of Rathillet, in the parish of Kihnany,
Fifeshire, was a gentleman of good family. He was present
at the death of Archbishop Sharp, but took no share in the
matter. He was at Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge. John Howie
has given him a merited place among the Scots Worthies.

His sentence is in " Wodrow." It is scarcely possible to con-
ceive anything more savage and revolting. Burnet says of him,
'• He was so low, by reason of his wounds, that it was thought he
would die in the Question if tortured ; so he was, in a very summary
way, condemned to have both his hands cut off, and then to be
hanged. All this he suffered with a constancy that amazed all
people ; he seemed to be all the while in an enthusiastical rapture,
and insensible of what was done to him. When his hands were cut
off, he asked, like one unconcerned, if his feet must be cut off
likewise ; and he had so strong a heart, that, notwithstanding all the
loss of blood by his wounds and the cutting off his hands, yet, when
he was hanged up and his heart cut out, it continued to palpitate
some time after it was on the hangman's knife, as some eye-witnesses
assured me." Defoe and Patrick Walker give still more circum-
stantial accounts of the cruelties perpetrated on him at his execution.
—Ed.]

■ HE TESTIMONY of that valiant and worthy Gentle-
man, David Hackston of Rathillet, who suffered at
the Cross of Edinburgh, July 30, 1680 : —

His Interrogations and Answers before the Privy
Council, Saturday, July 26, 1680.

I. Whether or not had you any hand in the murder-
ing of the late Archbishop of St Andrews ? Answered,
He was not obliged to answer that question, nor be his own accuser.

A Cloud of Wiiuesses.

TOLBOOTH OF EDINBURGH —bOUTH IKUXT — NOW KhMOVED

II. What he would declare as to the King's authority? Answered,
The authority that disowns the interest of God, and states [/>., sets]
itself in opposition to Jesus Christ, is no more to be owned ; but so
it is, the King's authority is now such, therefore it ought not to be
owned.

III. Whether the killing the Archbishop of St Andrews was murder,
yea or not ? Answered, That he thought it no sin to despatch a
bloody monster.

IV. If he owned the New Covenant, taken at the Queensferry,
from ]\Ir Cargill, one of their preachers ? Answered, That he did
own it in every particular thereof, and would fain see the man that in
conscience and reason would debate the contrary.

V. If he were at liberty, and had the power to kill any of the
King's council, and murder them as he did the Archbishop of St An-
drews, whether he would do it, yea or not? Answered, That he had
no spare time to answer such frivolous and childish questions.

The Chancellor told him, that if he were not more ingenuous in
his answers, he would presently be tortured. He answered, " That is
but a little addition to your former cruelties, and I have that comfort,
that though you torture my wounded body, yet ye cannot reach my
soul." The Chancellor urged him with several other questions, which

David Hackston. 4 1

he refused to answer. But, said he, " I would gladly speak a little, if
I could have liberty ; " which was allowed him.

Then he said : " Ye know that youth is a folly, and I acknow-
ledge that, in my younger \ ears, I was too much carried down with
the spate [i.e., flood] of it ; but that inexhaustible fountain of the
goodness and grace of God, which is free and great, hath reclaimed
me, and, as a firebrand, hath plucked me out of the claws of Satan ;
and now I stand here before you as a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for
adhering to His cause and interest, which hath been sealed \vith
the blood of many worthies, who have suffered in these lands, and
have witnessed to the truths of Christ these few years bygone. And
I do own all the testimonies given by them, and desire to put in my
mite among theirs, and am not only willing to seal it with my blood,
but also to seal it with the sharpest tortures that you can imagine."

Then, being interrogated by the Bishop of Edinburgh, what he
would answer to that article of the Confession of Faith, that differ
ence of religion doth not make void the Magistrate's right and autho-
rity? He answered, that he would not answer any perjured Prelate.
The Bishop replied, he was in the wrong to him, because he never took
the Covenant, therefore he was not perjured, and so deserved not
that name. But some of them asking him how he would answer that
question, he answered, " That question was answered long ago, by the
Solemn League and Covenant, which binds us only to maintain and
defend the King in the defence of the true religion : but now the
king having stated himself an enemy to religion, and all that will live
religiously, therefore it is high time to shake oft' all obligation of
allegiance to his authority."

These interrogations were all read to him in the face of the
council, and he owned all. The next day he was arraigned before
the council. They asked if he had any more to say. He answered,
that which he had to say, was said already in every particular thereof,
and, said he, " I will not only seal it with my blood, but with all the
tortures you can imagine."

42 A Cloud of Witfiesses.

of the proceedings of the Privy Council,
Edinburgh, July 29, 1680.

In presence of the Lords, Justiciary Clerk, and
Commissioners of Justiciary, compeared David Hack-
ston of Rathillet, and declines the King's Majesty's
authority, the authority of the Commissioners of Justi-
ciary as his judges, and absolutely refuses to sign this
declaration, as being before persons who are not his judges. He
refuses to answer concerning the murder of the late Archbishop of
St Andrews, and says the causes of his declinement are, " because
they have usurped the Supremacy over the Church, belonging alone to
Jesus Christ, and have established idolatry, perjury, and other iniqui-
ties ; and, in prosecuting their design in confirming themselves in this
usurped right, have shed much innocent blood." Therefore the said
David, adhering to Christ His rights and kingly office over the Church,
declines them that are His open enemies and competitors for His
crown and power as competent judges ; refuses, as formerly, to sign
this his declaration, dated from his own mouth ; whereupon his Ma-
jesty's Advocate takes instruments, and requires the Commissioners
of Justiciary to sign the same in his presence as for him ; and his
Majesty's Advocate takes instruments, that the said David has de-
clined his Majesty's authority and the authority of his commissioners,
and refused to deny the murder of the late Archbishop of St Andrews,
and requires Mr John Vass, James Balfour, and the men of the court
witnesses to the foresaid declaration. Sic suhscrihitu7% Sir Robert
Maitland, James Foulis, David Baltour, David Falconer,
Rodger Hodge.

PON Friday, July 30, being again brought before the council,
it was asked of him if he had any other thing to say. He
answered " That which I have said, I will seal it." Then
they told him they had something to say to him, and commanded him
to sit down and receive his sentence, which willingly he did ; but told
them, they were all murderers, for all that power they had was derived
from tyranny, and that these years bygone they have not only tyran-
nised over the Church of God, but have also grinded the face of the

David Hackston. 43

poor, so that oppression, bloodshed, perjury, and many murders were
to be found in their skirts. Upon which he was incontinent \i.e.,
instantly] carried away to the scaffold at the Market Cross of Edin-
burgh, where he died with great torture inflicted upon his body, not
being permitted to leave any testimony to the world ; except what is
comprehended in these missives, directed to some of his Christian
acquaintance from his prison in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, which
are as follows :

OPY of a Letter written by David Hackston of
Rathillet, to his Christian friend N. Dated from
)j the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, July 25, 1680.

ir?'<s^"^ex " D'^^^ Acquaintance, — I know this late dispensa-

" (^'(V§2 ^^^^^ °^ Providence will occasion much sadness to you,

^^^ and other lovers of God's truth ; now in this day,
Y when so few by their practice prove themselves to be

zealous for God, or lovers of His truth, but, instead of that growth
in the graces of God's Spirit, and steadfastness which should be in
Christians, have made defection from the truth, and are fallen from
their first love, to the strengthening the hands of usurpers of the crown
of Christ, in their unlawful encroachments on the privileges of the
Son of God.

" Wherefore, I entreat you, and all others, as you would not offend
God, and provoke Him to more anger, do not murmur, but bless
and praise Him, and submit to Him in all humility; for if this be one
of the steps to Zion's deliverance, and God's glory, why should not
we praise Him for everything ? If we had the manner of our delivery
at our carving, we would spill \i.c., mar] it. He is the wisdom of the
Father, who sits at the helm, and orders all affairs. The faith of
this should silence all suggestions from Satan, our own hearts, and
misbelief.

" I desire you will discharge all that have love or affection to
me, not to be sad on my account, but rather to rejoice on my
behalf, that God hath so honoured me in all I have been trysted
[/>., tried] with. For as He took me, when I was a slave to Satan
and sin, and cast His love upon me, and plucked me as a brand
out of the fire, and brought me into covenant with Him, to pro-

44 -^ Cloud of Witnesses.

mote and carry foi-^'ard His work without fear of what man could
do unto me; and as He helped me to make the bargaui with Him
in good terms ; which was a renouncing of my own strength, and a
resolution to do all in His strength ; so now He hath been faithful
in all things to me, and hath furnished me sufficiently for what He
hath called me to, and hath passed by my many gross failings, and
breaches of my conditions to Him, and hath done to me above what
I could ask of Him.

" Oh ! that I could commend Him to all, and stir up all to fear,
admire, and praise Him, and believe on Him ! But the lukewarm-
ness and want of love to God, and indift'erency in Christ's matters
(which, in His condescendency to His Church He hath reserved as
His declarative glory), and neutrality in these things, are come to
so great a height amongst professors, that I think God is laying
stumbling-blocks before them, one after another ; that, when they
are fallen Avhom He will have to fall. He may be glorified in His
justice, by bringing that stroke of vengeance that seems to be hanging
over these lands, because of their fearful idolatry, perjury, bloodshed,
blasphemy, and other abominations which the whole land is this day
guilty of.

" Think it not strange that I say all are guilty. There are none free,
nor shall be reputed free in the sight of God, but mourners in Zion.
Lord grant repentance and a spirit of mourning ! Brokenness and
contrition of spirit are the only sacrifices well-pleasing unto God ; and
I prove all guilty ; first, our representatives, and so we in them,
established these sins in our national decrees, which we have homo-
logated in owning them ever after, and much more have we homo-
logated their sins, in contributing, one way or other, to the strengthen-
ing of their hands against God ; as, alas ! but few be free of this, this
day. Oh ! that preachers would preach repentance, and professors
would exhort one another to mourn in secret, and together, because
of sin ; and with their mourning would believe ; for these are ver)'
consistent together.

" I find flesh and blood great enemies to faith, and friends, yea
fosterers, 6i sinful fears. It is above nature to believe, especially
when dispensations seem to contradict our faith. But if any had
faith towards God concerning me, let not this brangle [/>., weaken]
their faith, but rather strengthen it. There is nothing can contradict
what God hath determined ; but over the belly of all opposition He
will perfect His work in and by me, either to a remarkable deliver)',

David Hacks ton. 45

or through-bearing [/>., upholding] me as He sees most for His own
glory.

" Wherefore, let us submit to His will, and lie before His throne
in behalf of Zion and her children. And oh ! that ye yourselves
would, and that ye would desire others that are faithful, to hold up my
case to Zion's God, that He would glorify Himself in me ; and let your
prayers be in faith. ' To him that believeth, all things are possible,'
There are many feckless [/.c., worthless] misbelieving prayers, that
jirevail not with God, because of unbelief 1 know these sufferings
will be a great stumbling to many otherwise gracious ; but let it not
be to you. I bless God it is not, as yet, so to me ; but rather the
power, yea, the love of God to me ; for it was not altogether un-
expected unto me.

" For (not to reflect upon any that have sealed that truth and
cause, as we stated it, with their blood), I cannot deny but it was
over the belly of conscience that 1 joined with some of our
party; — [referring to the discussions and fatal divisions immediately
previous to the battle of Bothwell Bridge. — Ed.] — for some of them
had not their garments clean of their late defections, and there was
too much of pride amongst us. Neither dare I allow that taking of
satisfaction for practices, which are the homologating of the public
sins, which we did about half-an-hour before our break ; which checked
me exceedingly in the time. I think real sorrow would make men,
like the prodigal, to think themselves not worthy to be employed in
that work. Real evidences of reconciliation with God should be
seen before admission to such an employment.

" Oh ! that all would take warning, by my reproof, not to venture
to follow any man over conscience ! There were choice, godly men
amongst us, but one Achan will make Israel to fall. I fear the want
of faith among us, first and last, and all along our late business. I
know many mouths will be opened against me, because of what I did
before this business. But I dare not but speak it ; this is a stumbling-
block laid to drive them to more sin ; and alas ! that I did not do
more to purge us of every sin, especially known sin among us.
These that abode within, and came not out with us, let them remem-
ber Meroz' curse. I am afraid that God thinks them not free of our
blood, for not joining to our help.

" And now, knowing ye will be anxious to know how it was then
[at Airsmoss], and how it hath been since with me : First, we getting
notice of a party out seeking us, sent two on Wednesday night late

46 A Cloud of Witnesses.

to know their motion, and lay on a muir side all night, and Thursday
about ten hours [/>., ten o'clock], we went to take some meat ; and
sent out other two, and desired them to consult with the first two,
who had not come to us, but were lying down to sleej) ; who all four
returned and told us, it was unnecessary to send any for intelligence,
they having secured it.

'• Whereupon, after we had gotten some meat, we came to a
piece of grass, and lay down, and presently we were all alarmed
that they were upon us ; and so making ready, we saw them coming
fast on, and that about three or four hours [z>., three or four
o'clock] in the afternoon ; and each one resolving to fight, I rode
off, to seek a strength [/>., a piece of rising or commanding ground]
for our advantage, and being desired by a countrj^man to go into
such a place for the best strength, I went, and they followed ; but,
coming to it, I found we could go no further, and so running and
drawing up quickly eight horse on the right hand with R. D[ick],
and fifteen on the left with me, being no more ; the foot not being
forty, and many of them ill armed in the midst ; I asked all if they
were willing to fight, who all said yes, especially J[ames] G[ray].

" The enemy advanced fast, whom I took to be above an hundred
and twelve, Avell armed and horsed ; who sent first about twenty dra-
goons on foot to take the wind of us, which we seeing, sent a party
on foot to meet them, and the rest of us advanced fast on the enemy,
being a strong body of horse coming hard on us ; whereupon, when we
were joined, our horse fired first, and wounded and killed some of
them, both horse and foot. Our horse advanced to their faces, and
we fired on each other, I being foremost after receiving their fire,
and, finding the horse behind me broken, I then rode in amongst
them, and went out at a side, without any wrong or wound. I was
pursued by several, with whom I fought a good space ; sometimes
they following me, and sometimes I following them.

" At length my horse bogged, and also the foremost of theirs, which
was David Ramsay, one of my acquaintance. We both being on foot,
fought it with small swords, without advantage to one another, but at
length closing, I was stricken down with three on horseback behind
me, and receiving three sore wounds on the head, and so falling, he
saved my life, which I submitted to. They searched me, and carried
me to their rear, and laid me down, where I bled much ; where were
also brought several of their men sore wounded. They gave us all
testimony of brave resolute men. What more of our men were killed,

David Hacks toil. 47

I did not see nor know, but, as they told me after, the field was theirs.
[Nine were killed in all. The inscription on the monument erected
where they fell is in the Appendix.] I was brought towards Douglas.
They used me civilly, and brought me drink out of a house by the
way. At Douglas, Janet Cleland was kind to me, and brought a
chirurgeon [i.e., a surgeon] to me, who did but little to my wounds,
only stanched the blood.

" Next morning I was brought to Lanark, and brought before
Dalziel, Lord Ross, and some others, who asked many questions at
me ; but I not satisfying them with answers, Dalziel did threaten to
roast me, and carrying me to the tolbooth, caused me to be bound
most barbarously, and cast me down ; where I lay till Saturday morn-
ing, without any, except soldiers, admitted to speak to me, or look to
my wounds, or give me any ease whatsoever. And next morning they
brought me and John Pollock, and other two of us, two miles on foot,
I being without shoes, where that party which had broken us at first re-
ceived us. They were commanded by [Bruce of] Earlshall. We were
horsed, civilly used by them on the way, and brought to Edinburgh,
about four in the afternoon, and carried about the north side of the
towTi to the foot of the Canongate, where the town magistrates were,
who received us ; and setting me on a horse with my face backward,
and the other three bound on a goad of iron, and Mr Cameron's
head carried on a halbert before me, and another head in a sack,
whose I knew not, on a lad's back, we were so carried up the street
to the Parliament Close, where I was taken down, and the rest
loosed. All was done by the hangman.

" I was carried up to the Council, and first put up into a room
alone, where the Chancellor [the Duke of Rothes] came, and asked
if I knew him. I answered yes. He, after some protestations of
love, to which I answered nothing, went his way, and then I was
brought in before the Council, where the Chancellor read a dittay
[i.e., indictment] against me.

" First, anent the Archbishop's murder, to which I answered, I was
obliged by no law, either of God or man, to answer to it, and neither
to accuse myself nor reveal others, by vindicating myself, or any other
way.

" The Advocate asked where I was the third day of May was a
year ; to whom I answered, ' I am not bound to keep a memorial
where I am or what I do every day.'

" The Chancellor asked if I thought it murder; to which I answered,

A Cloud of Witnesses.

I ( I HU LI 1 I Jb( I

though I was not bound to answer such cjuestions, yet I would not
call it so, but rather say, it was no murder.

" The Advocate said, ' sir, you must be a great liar, to say you
remember not where you were that day, it being so remarkable a
day.' 1 replied, ' sir, you must be a far greater Har, to say I
answered such a thing.'

" Whereupon the Chancellor replied, ' My Lord Advocate, he said
only he was not bound to keep in memory every day's work.'

" The Chancellor asked if I adhered to Mr Cargill's papers, which
they called the New Covenant, taken at the Queensferry ? I answered
I would know what any would say against them.

" He asked if I owned the king's authority ? I told, though I was
not bound to answer such questions, yet, being permitted to speak,
I would say somewhat to that. And first, that there could be no
lawful authority but what was of God ; and that no authority, stated
[i.e., set up] in a direct opposition to God, could be of God, and that
I knew of no authority nor judicatory this day in these nations but
what were in a direct opposition to God, and so could neither be of
God, nor lawful ; and that their fruits were kything [/>., manifesting]
it, in that they were setting bougerers, murderers, sorcerers, and
such others, at libert}' from justice, and employing them in their

David Hackston. 49

service, and made it their whole work to oppress, kill, and destroy
the Lord's people.

" The Chancellor and all raged, and desired me to instance one of
such so set at liberty and employed. I answered to that, though it
were enough to instance any such, when I saw a judicatory to exe-
cute justice, yet I would instance one, and I instanced a bougerer,
liberated at the sheriff court of Fife, and afterwards employed in their
service, at which the Chancellor raged, and said I behoved to be a
liar ; but I offered to prove it.

" Bishop Paterson asked if ever Pilate and that judicatory, who
were direct enemies to Christ, were disowned by Him as judges ? I
answered that I would answer no perjured prelate in the nation. He
answered that he could not be called perjured, because he never took
that sacrilegious Covenant. I answered, that God would own that
Covenant, when there were none of them to oppose it. They all cried
that I was prophesying. I answered, I was not prophesying, but that
I durst not doubt but God, who had such singular love to these lands
as to bring them into Covenant in so peculiar a manner with Him,
would let it be seen that His faithfulness was engaged to carry it
through, in opposition to His enemies.

" Some asked what I answered to that article of the Confession of
Faith, concerning the king ? I answered, it was cleared in these two
Covenants. I'he Advocate asked, what I said of that article of the
Covenant, wherein we are bound to maintain and defend the king?
I desired Him to tell out the rest of it, which was in defence of
religion, but not in the destruction of religion.

" The Chancellor threatened me mth the Boots, and other terrible
things, and said that I should not have the benefit of a sudden death.
To which I answered, it would be but an addition to their cruelties
used against God's people before, and that I was there a prisoner of
Christ, owning His truths against His open enemies ; and referred it
to their OAvn Acts of Parliament and Council, to let their cruelty and
opposition to God and His people be seen.

" After this, they called for a chirurgeon, and removed me to another
room, where he dressed my wounds, in which time the Chancellor
came and kindly asked, If ever I said to a shepherd, on the Mount-
hill, that, if I thought they would not put me to an ignominious death,
I would refer myself to the Chancellor ? I said. No. He said
that a shepherd came to him and said so. I said, That he, or any
other that said so to him, were liars. I was asked by some concern

50 A Cloud of Witnesses.

ing our strength ; to which I told how few we were, and how sur-
prised by such a strong party, and, knowing with what cruel orders
they came against us, were forced to fight.

" After dressing of my wounds, I was brought back to them, and
these things, being written, were read over to me, to which I adhered ;
and being asked if I would sign them, I said, Not. The Chancellor
said. He would do it for me. Some one of them asked at the
first time, concerning my being at some other business. To whom
I answered. That though I was not obliged to answer to such ques-
tions, yet I adhered to all that had been done in behalf of that cause
against its enemies. After which, I was sent to the Tolbooth, and
have met since with all manner of kindness, and want for nothing.
My wounds are duly dressed, which, I fear, may prove deadly, they
being all in the head. The rest of my body is safe.

" In all these trials, I bless the Lord, 1 was staid, unmoved ; no
alteration of countenance in the least, nor impatience appeared.
Some of them have come to me, and regretted that such a man as
I should have been led away with Cameron. I answered. He was a
faithful minister of Jesus Christ ; and as for me, I desired to be one
of these despicable ones whom Christ choosed. They said. It was
a Quaker-like answer. I told, It was the words of Christ and His
apostles. Bishop Paterson's brother (unknown to me), had a long
reasoning with me, but I think not to truth's disadvantage. He told
me. That the whole Council observed, that I gave them not their
due titles ; at which I smiled, and made no reply. He said, I was
ill to the Bishop. I told that I asserted the truth. He said.
That he never took the Covenant, and so could not be perjured.
I answered, Prelacy itself was abjured by the whole nation. He
told me. That the whole Council found I was a man of great parts,
and also of good birth. I replied, For my birth, I was related to the
best in the kingdom, which I thought little of ; and for my parts, they
were small ; yet I trusted so much to the goodness of that cause, for
which I was a prisoner, that, if they would give God that justice, as
to let His cause be disputed, I doubted not to plead it against all
that could speak against it.

"It was cast up to me, both at the Council and here, that
there were not two hundred in the nation to own our cause. I
answered, at both times, that the cause of Christ had been often
owTied by fewer. I was pressed to take advice. I answered, I
would advise with God, and my own conscience, and would not

David Hackston. 5 1

depend on men ; and refused to debate any more, since it was to no
purpose, being troublesome to me, and not advantageous to the cause.
At the Council, some said, I was possessed with a devil ; some one
thing, some another ; the Chancellor said, I was a vicious man. I
answered. While I was so, I had been acceptable to him ; but now
when otherwise, it was not so. He asked me, If I would yet own that
cause with my blood if at liberty ? I answered. Both our fathers had
owned it with the hazard of their blood before me. Then I was called
by all, a murderer. I answered, God, to whom I refer it, should
decide it betwixt us, who are most murderers in His sight, they or I.

" Ye have an account, as near as I can give, of what passed among
us. Be ye, and desire all others to be, earnest with God in my behalf;
for I am weak, and cannot stand without constant supplies of the
graces of His Spirit. Oh ! I am afraid lest I deny Him. I have rich
promises ; but I want faith. Pray and wrestle in my behalf, and
in behalf of the rest. And show this to my friends in that cause
with me, especially D. K. Let all lie before the Lord, that He would
show us the cause of His anger against us ; and let me know, with
the first occasion, who of us were slain [at Airsmoss].

" Commend me to all friends ; and let none stumble at the
cause, because of this. It was often in my mouth, to almost all,
' That if we purged not ourselves of the public and particular
sins among us, God would break us, and bring a delivery out of
our ashes.' Let none murmur at what we should think our glory.
And let ministers and others be afraid to be more tender of men,
than God's glory ; and however it be a stumbling to some, let it
be a token of the love of God to His Church, to you, and all that
love His truth. Pray for the out-lettings of all the graces of God's
Spirit to me, and all the rest. I have need of patience, submission,
humility, love to, and zeal for God ; hope and faith above all, with-
out which I am but a frail worm, and will fall before these enemies
of mine, inward and outward.

" And thus recommending you to His grace, who hath bought us
with His precious blood, and remembering my love to all friends, —
I am,

" Yours, in our sweet Lord and Sympathiser in our afflictions,
" Sic subscribitur,

"DAVID HACKSTON.

" P.S. — You may let others see this, but have a care of keeping

52 A Cloud of Witfiesses.

it ; because I have no double, and it may be all my testimony. Send
nothing to me ; for I am fully seen to, and have met with kindness
from all sorts ; only, friends have not liberty to see me. My love to
you and all friends. I said to Clerk Paterson, that I should have
seen Mr Cargill's papers, before I had answered anent them."

OPY of another Letter written by David Hackston of
Rathillet, to a Gentlewoman of his acquaintance, dated
from the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, July 28, 1680.

" Madam, — The bearer shows me, that your lady-
ship desires to know what I mean by the Achan I men-
tioned in my other, which I shall explain. And alas !
that I have such a wide field to walk in, when I name
such a thing ; for I know not how to find out the man that is
free of the accursed thing among us, for which God is contending
against the land \ especially against such as would be most free of
the public sins, and most downright for God. Only I desire both to
reverence and admire the holy wisdom and loving-kindness of God,
who is by these dark-like dispensations purging His people, that
He may bring forth a chaste spouse to Himself in Scotland. These
are tokens of His fatherly love ; and I fear a delivery, while we stand
guilty of such things as are so open whoredoms against our married
husband, might rather be looked upon as a bill of divorce, than
joining again in the married relation. And first, I must explain the
national sins according to the light God hath bestowed upon me out
of His free grace ; who is not tied to any, but chooseth and revealeth
Himself to whom He will, and often glorifies His free grace, in
making use even of the greatest sinners, as I confess I have been
one ; which national sins are contained in our national decrees.

" And first, The whole land is become guilty of idolatry, as it is
established by the Acts of Supremacy, especially the Act Explana-
tory \i.e., ist Act of Second Parliament of Charles II., Nov. 16, i66g,
asserting his Majesty's supremacy over all persons, and in all causes
ecclesiastical, and the first act that was rescinded in the second session
of the first Parliament of William and Mary. — Ed.], \vherein all the
declarative glory and prerogatives of Jesus Christ are given to the
king ; which is fearful idolatry, in ascribing that which He hath pur-

David Hackston. 5 3

chased with His precious blood, and received from the Father as
His gift, and hath reserved as His peculiar glory ; giving this, I say,
unto a creature, whom by this blasphemous decree, we have set up
in the room of Jesus Christ, as governor and absolute head and
judge in all ecclesiastic affairs. And by the same decree, all acts and
laws contrary to it are rescinded ; and the whole word of God con-
tained in the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament are a
law contrary to it, and so by this are rescinded.

" Now, besides this sin of idolatry, by the Act Recissory, [Act
15 of the First Parliament of Charles H., entitled 'Act rescinding
and annulling the pretended Parliaments in the year 1640, 1641, etc'
In virtue of this Act, there is a blank in the editions of the Scots
Acts from 1639 to 1650. The original register of these Acts has been
recently found in Her Majesty's State Paper Office in London, and
has been transcribed, and is about to be pubUshed by her Majesty's
Government, uniform with the other Acts of the Parliament of Scot-
land.— Ed.], all other acts, oaths, covenants, and engagements that
the lands are lying under, sworn to God, and in His name, are re-
scinded and declared null ; and, in contempt of God, to whom, and
in whose name they were so solemnly sworn and so often renewed,
are burned by the hands of the hangmen, through several places of
these covenanted kingdoms. This is a legal perjury, and breach of
covenant, without a parallel in sacred or profane history. Besides,
in contempt of the presence of God, seen at the meetings of His
people convened in His name, they have declared them rendez-
vouses of rebellion [Act against Conventicles. Act V., Second
Session of Second Parliament of Charles II. — Ed.] ; and by another
Act, have accounted it presumption for any minister to preach
without doors [this is done in the Act just mentioned, and also in
Act XVII. of the Third Session of Scottish Parliament of Charles II.
— Ed.] ; thus contemning the call of Christ, whereby they set them-
selves above God.

" I could instance many horrid things, acted and done by them,
in their prosecuting their design of having that idol of theirs fixed
in the usurpation of the prerogatives of Jesus Christ. Yet not
doubting but your ladyship knows many of them, I shall for brevity's
sake omit; only the land is filled from the one end to the other
with innocent blood shed on that account, and with other terrible
abominations, detestable among Turks and heathens. I think, in
God's righteous judgment, these men are given up thereto, for the

54 A Cloud of Witnesses.

upfilHng of the measure of their iniquity, that He may be glorified in
the stroke of His justice upon all ranks, which is fast hastening, and
that inevitably.

" But next, to mention who are guilty hereof I know not how to
do it, only, I may say, I know none can be called free ; and a
freeing of any of ourselves thereof, is but a hardening ourselves
against God, and a defending sin against Him, who is a swift witness
and will not be mocked, but will bring forth the hidden things of
dishonesty to light. And, therefore, not to mention the idol of the
Lord's jealousy, or those that are prosecuting his wicked commands
under him, nor Prelates, and their adherents, I judge, and I fear,
God will esteem all guilty of these forementioned sins, that have any
way owned any of these after their ^\■ickedness was discovered ; and
much more such, as have by their personal deeds homologated these
wicked decrees ; and that either by paying cesses for strengthening
them in their down-bearing of the meetings of God's people for His
worship, met in opposition to these wicked decrees, which is their
consent to, and contribution for the strengthening them in all their
wickedness against God ; or yet by subscribing any manner of bonds
to them, which is an acknowledging them in that relation wherein
they stand, and are designing to fix themselves, when they are
pursuing, taking, imprisoning, and letting them out on these bonds
again. For their end, in all their prosecutions of this nature, is
to confirm themselves in this usurpation of the crown of Christ, as
Head of the Church ; and a subscribing any manner of bond pre-
scribed by them is, and will be, in the sight of God, an acknowledg-
ing them as head of the Church, in the several stations wherein they
have stated themselves, the King as head, and they as factors under
him, prosecuting his will, and putting in execution his commands.
And an acknowledging any other head, any manner of way, over the
Church, is directly a denying of Christ before men in His kingly
ofiice, which is a plain denying of Him, and hath fore-threatenings
annexed thereunto.

" I could mention many other circumstances wherein this genera-
tion has touched the accursed thing, and has bowed the knee to
that Baal-like idol of the Lord's indignation and anger; but I shall
only mention, beside these two, a third, of some who have appeared
in arms against God, for, and in company with His enemies. Now,
that way of giving and taking satisfaction for these sins, which some
are for. I cannot consent to.

David Hackston. 5 5

" For first, these sinful practices being practices immediately
against God and the first table of the law, no satisfaction to man
can be sufficient. I close not that door which God hath opened in
mercy to the really penitent ; but I say, real evidences that God has
forgiven should be, before a-joining with such in society. I know
the Gospel should be preached to all, that they may repent ; that
being the means which God hath appointed for conversion, when men
have sinned. But oh ! when men, after light, fall into these things,
and others counsel and advise them to such things, fearful shall their
doom be, if God prevent them not in His mercy !

" Now, madam, there were some such among us ; and, as I have
observed, God has still punished that party which has been appearing
for Him, when they have taken in and joined with the men of these
abominations, and has, as it were, laid by such as have complied with
the time's apostacy, I doubt not reserving them to the general stroke
He is threatening the whole lands with. Oh ! that one and all were
making their soul's interest sure with God !

" Madam, 1 shall not mention the several steps of apostacy and
defection from God in these lands, in complying, one way or other,
with the stated enemies of the living God, to the strengthening them
in their usurpations of Ghrist's crown and privileges, and hardening
them in their sin ; in shedding, so many ways, so much innocent
blood, and their other wicked courses. Neither shall I mention thai
idvohsing of men that is amongst us, to the provoking of God to let,
yea, cause them fall ; neither that selfishness that is among us, in our
appearances for God, which cannot away with \i.e, be endured by]
a holy, spotless, and jealous God, who will not give His glory to
another. Oh ! that one and all were mourning for, and acknowledg-
ing our own and the land's guiltiness in these things, and were seek-
ing brokenness of spirit, which is a sacrifice well pleasing to God ; that
God might yet be reconciled to us, and set up by His spirit His
standard, and gather in His own people thereto, and might let out
His spirit to one and all, that are called by His name. I doubt not
but God will save a remnant ; but it will be of such in whom His free
grace will be glorified, and not of the great ones that have not
rendered to the Lord according to the talents He bestowed on
them.

" Remember me to my fellow-prisoners, especially such as are
keeping their garments clean of these pollutions ; and be earnest
^^^th God in my behalf, that He would keep me standing, by His

A Cloud of Witnesses.

free grace, in this trial, in patience, humility, and godly fear ; and
I am,

" Madam,
" Your Ladyship's, in all humility in Jesus Christ,
" DAVID HACKSTON."

OPY of a Third Letter written by David Hackston
during his imprisonment, to his Christian Friend N.
Dated July 28, 1680.

" Dear and Christian Acquaintance, — My
love being remembered to you and all friends in Jesus
Christ ; these are to show you and all others that I
know, and [who] lo^'e the truth, as it is this day owned
by the smallest handful that pretend thereto, that I was yesterday
before the Lords of Justiciary. They charged me with several things.
" I declined the king's authority as a usurper of the ])rero-
gatives of the Son of God, whereby he hath involved the lands in
idolatry, perjury, and other wickednesses ; and I declined them, as
exercising under him the supreme power over the Church usurped
from Jesus Christ, who, in carrying on their designs of confirming
themselves in their usurpations of the crown of Christ, had shed so
much innocent blood throughout the land ; and that therefore I, as
an owner of Christ's right and His kingly office which they by their
wicked decrees had taken from Him, durst not, with my own con-
sent, sustain them as competent judges, but declined them as open
and stated enemies to the living God, and competitors for His
tlirone and power belonging alone to Him. Whereupon I was dis-
nussed, and at night my indictment to compear to-morrow before an
assize was intimated.

"Therefore I entreat ye will, (for I know ye have moyen \i.e.,
power] with God,) and cause other faithful friends, to set time apart,
and inquire the Lord's mind concerning me, and be earnest with
Him in my behalf, that He will glorify Himself in me. You may

send your letter to with a sure hand, who will give

it to me. Wherever M[r] D[onald] C[argill] is, acquaint him with
my case, or send him this line, for I know the mind of God is
with him, and desire him to write to me. I think I dare not mis-
believe, but when fear assaults me, I think there is a voice saying

David Hackston.

to me, Fear not. Let none stumble at our cause, because of the late
dispensation ; it is God's cause ; which was, and is, in our hands,
though He has punished us with His fatherly chastisements, because
of sin amongst us. Every tree that bringeth forth fruit, He purgeth
it, that it may bring forth more fruit ; but that which decayeth and
goeth backward, is laid by as useless.

" John Pollock has been in the Boots, but I am informed, he is not
discouraged, but is likely to be well again. My wounds are very
sore, but, blessed be God, He keeps me in a good temper, both of
body and mind. I am kindly enough used, wanting nothing.

" I recommend you, and all the faithful, to the protection of Him,
who is the Almighty God, and Everlasting Father. No more, but
rest,

" Yours in our sweet Lord Jesus Christ,

''DAVID HACKSTON."

LETTER written by David Hackston to his sister :

" Loving Sister, — I received yours, and the other
with it, both to my contentment and satisfaction.

" It makes me afraid, that the eyes of many should
be on me. Let all look to God. I am frail, but Christ
is strong. I have His promise of through-bearing, and
assurance that He should honour me in His cause,
before this. Lie low before the Lord, and let others that are yet
faithful be earnest on my behalf, and do it in faith. The prayers of
the faithful avail much.

" Have you nothing, and tell all friends to have nothing, to do
with such, as have ado with these that are sitting in that seat, and
exercising that power which belongs alone to Christ. The stroke
of the Lord's anger is ready to be poured forth ; and these that have
received greatest talents from God, and have made use of them, to
strengthen enemies' hands by bonds, or otherwise owning them, shall
be most remarkable in the stroke, and shall not be honoured to testify
for Christ — despised Christ — robbed Christ — contemned Christ by
this generation.

" Remember me to all relations and friends ; and give warning to
all to cleave to Christ's truth and interest. If the free grace of God
be glorified in me, ought not all to praise Him ? Christ came not

A Cloud of Witnesses.

to rail the righteous, but sinners. Many of this generation think
they have so much grace that they cannot sin ; but I must tell them,
grace cloth not warrant from sin, and they may so think of it.
" Sic suOscnbitier,

"DAVID HACKSTON."

Archibald Alison.

ODRO^^"S account of Alison and of Malcolm, is all that is
now known of them : " Upon the 4th of August, I find
other two men who had been taken at Airsmoss before the
Justiciary ; John Malcolm, of the parish of Dairy, in Galloway, and
Archibald Alison, of the parish of Evandale, in Clydesdale. Their
indictment runs in common form. They confess they were at Both-
well Bridge, and at Airsmoss ; and received their sentence to be
hanged at the Grassmarket upon the nth of August. That day, or,
as other papers make it, the 13th, they were executed, and died in
great assurance and comfortable hopes of well-being."

The Rutherglen Declaration, referred to in Alison's testimony, was
the earliest indication of the position which the societies soon after-
wards took up, of direct opposition to the Government. It was, how-
ever, never owned by the societies. It will be found at the close
of the Informatory Vindication. Its substance is w^ell stated in the
Vindication : " The Lord stirred up a handful to publish the Testi-
mony at Rutherglen, May 29, 1679, bearing witness against the
sacrilegious Supremacy, the Declaration condemning our covenants,
the Act for keeping the 29th of May as an holy anniversary day of
thanksgiving for the upsetting of the tyrant, and against other ne-
farious Acts of Parliament, and all prejudices done to the interest
of C hrist in the land. And for confirmation of their testimony,
they did burn the aforesaid Acts, according as the adversary had

Archibald Alison. 59

burnt our holy Covenants, and did extinguish the bonfires upon the
same anniversary day."

The first Indulgence, also referred to in Alison's testimony, was
issued June 7th, 1669. It permitted those outed ministers, that had
lived peaceably and orderly in the places where they had resided, to
exercise the functions of the ministry in their former parishes, but for-
bade persons from other parishes to come and hear them, and declared
all who preached at or frequented conventicles to be seditious persons.
The second was made up of three acts, issued September 2d and 3d,
1672. It was of the same Erastian character as the former, although
it seemed to give more liberty. It was the cause, as no doubt it
was designed by its framers, of much division among the Presby-
terians.

The spot where so many of the martyrs suffered in the Grass-
market is at a central part in the east end. Robert Chambers,
writing in 1823, says, that at this spot there remained till very lately
a massive block of sandstone with a square hole in the middle. It
was the stone which served as a socket for the gallows when it was
the common place of execution. At the present day the spot is
marked out by an arrangement of the paving-stones in the form of
a St Andrew's Cross.

Criminals of a higher class suffered at the Cross in the High Street
of Edinburgh. Here Donald Cargill, David Hackston, Walter
Smith, and others, were executed.— Ed.]

> *«*■ <

HE DYING TESTIMONY of Archibald Alison, who
lived in the parish of Evandale in Clydesdale, and
suffered at the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, August 13,
1680.

"There have been many such sights seen in this
place of execution since the year 1660, for this interest
and cause, for which I have received the sentence of
death ; and here I am, in your presence, to lay down my life this
day ; for which I charge thee, oh ! my soul, and all that is within me,

6o A Cloud of IVitnesses.

to bless and magnify the name of the Lord, who can perfect His
praise, and bring a testimony out of the mouths of babes or suck-
lings. Yea, before He want some to seal His testimony, even if it
were from the beasts of the field. He will not want ; as in Balaam's
days, the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, gave a testimony
against the madness of the prophet. Wherefore, unworthy as I am,
I am come here, and beg your ear and attention, ye who are spec-
tators and auditors, if the Lord shall permit me to speak a few words ;
and I shall be but brief

" There are many come here this da3% to hear and see me lay
down this tabernacle of mine, that have various ends ; but our Lord
knows you all, and your ends both. It is true, God is my witness,
that I judge myself the unworthiest person of any that have lost their
blood for this honourable cause. He has been pleased to take a
testimony from noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, and poor plough-
men lads, and tradesmen of several sorts; which is a token for good,
that He has yet a kindness for these covenanted lands. And I
bless the Lord with all my heart, that ever He called me with His
heavenly calling. I bless the Lord, that I have a life to lay down
for His sake. Glory to the Lord, that I shall have blood and wounds
in His cause.

" But to come more particularly to the purpose in hand, the articles
of my indictment were these : First, they charged me with rebellion
for joining with these whom they call rebels, and declared enemies to
the king, and enemies to all good government. For my own part I
never called them so. I declare here where I stand, before Him
who will be my judge within a little, that my design in coming forth
with arms, was to hear the Gospel preached truly and faithfully ; and
I know it was the design of that poor handful to defend the Gospel,
and to keep up a witness and testimony against the abounding
corruptions that this land is filled with from end to end, and to plead
with the Lord that He would not make a total removal therefrom.
Yea, I heard Mr Richard Cameron say :

" ' My friends, we are not to compare ourselves with a Gideon's
300 men. No, not at all. Our design is to have you examined how ye
are, and what ye are; to choose two or three of the foot, and two or
three of the horse, that are found fittest (qualified for elders ; to try
your principles, to try your life and conversation, and to have you
being [/>., living] Christians. Our number was more tlie last day,
and we gave them free leave to go home, and only but a few handful

A re hid a Id A lison . 6 1

to stay ; for we design not to fall upon any party of the forces, except
they be few in number, and oppose us in keeping up the Gospel in
the fields ; for I am persuaded that one meeting in the fields has been
more owned and countenanced by His presence with His people,
than twenty house meetings, as they are now bought [by the Indul-
gences] ; and therefore make no strife among yourselves about offi-
cers, because they are but men ; yea, I think there is not a man
amongst you all meet for it. We are not meet to be a Minister to
you j only we are to wait till the Lord provide better ; and, ye that
are not satisfied to stay in defence of the Gospel, good morrow to
you, whatsoever ye be.'

" And so I thought it was rational and warrantable, both from the
word of God, and our solemn vows and covenants, which you and
the whole land are engaged unto. Now ye see what was my motive
to join with that handful, and in this I have peace, and on this
ground I lay down my life.

"There is a Second motive I had, for which I thought myself
bound to own that persecuted cause and interest of my blessed Lord
and Master, Jesus Christ. I being about two years ago in Carrick,
and, hearing the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ (in these glorious
days the shining of the countenance of our Lord was discernibly
seen there, both upon His ministers and people), I thought it my
duty to mark it. The Lord did so soften and animate my heart
at that time, that I made it my work, how I might win \i.e, get] to
clearness how to state \i.e., declare] myself, being among the de-
ceitful indulged Ministers ; and finding several places of Scripture
calling me out from them, as these known Scriptures, ' If the Lord
be God, follow Him : but if Baal then follow Him.' ' Come out
from among them my people, and touch not the unclean thing.'
'Touch not, taste not, handle not, which are all to perish with
the using ; ' I thought it was dreadful to be halting between two
opinions. On the other hand, I had some Scriptures concerning the
cross that attends pure religion and undefiled. The Lord who has
called me here to-day, to seal these truths, wrought, with an irre-
sistible power on my heart, that good word of His ; ' The Lord
liveth; and blessed be my Rock ; and let the God of my salvation
be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people
under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies : yea, thou liftest
me up above those that rise up against me : thou hast delivered me
from the violent man' (Psalm xviii. 46-48). This makes me rejoice.

02 A Cloud of Witnesses.

The Lord of hosts is upon my side ; the God of Jacob is my de-
fence. Oh ! so strongly as this binds and obhges me to suffer,
and count all joy now to go up this ladder ! And I had occasion
to be at several other meetings, I bless the Lord for it ; I bless the
Lord, that ever He made choice of me, who was a miserable sinner,
to lay down my life for His cause. And so I die not by constraint
or force ; but willingly at His command.

'' There is another clause in my indictment, and sentence of death.
They say, ' That I walked up and down the country, murdering,
destroying, and oppressing the subjects:' But I say, I did never
mind [i.e., intend] the like. And so they have, as they have done to
many an one, assized and sentenced me wrongously ; for I did never
mind to murder or rob any man. Therefore I am clear to charge
them guilty of my blood, and to give my testimony against them, as
murderers of the servants and people of God, in their being about
the service and worship of God ; as I was.

" In the next place —

" I. I believe that all the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ment are the word of the eternal and ever living God, given by divine
inspiration ; and that every duty commanded therein ought to be
obeyed and performed upon the greatest peril and hazard ; and that
every crooked and false way should be avoided and guarded against,
whatever be the seeming advantages which may accompany the
embracing of it ; under the pain of being led forth with the workers
of iniquity, when He shall pronounce peace on His Israel.

" 2. I give my witness, and join my adherence to the Confession
of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, National and Solemn
League and Covenant, with our Solemn Acknowledgment of sins
and Engagement to duties.

" 3. I adhere to the Church government by General Assemblies,
Synods, Presbyteries, and Kirk Sessions, according as it was estab-
lished in the year 1648.

"4. I give my testimony to that faithful declaration at Ruther-
glen, the 29th of May 1679.

•'5. I adhere and give my testimony to the Declaration at San-
quhar, June 22, 1680, together with the paper gotten at the Queens-
ferry upon Henry Hall, June 3, 1680.

" 6. I give my testimony, and set to my seal, to all the former
testimonies sealed by the blood of them who have been murdered
on scaffolds, in the fields, and in the sea, from the year 1660, to this

A rchiba Id A lis on. 6

day; by all the imprisonments and banishments of exiled and
wandering ones ; and by all the spoilings and robbings, oppression,
stigmatizing, scourging, and booting, and other horrid cruelties, whicli
have been committed by the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ.

" On the other hand- —

" I. I enter my protestation before the Judge of all, both living
and dead, before whom I am to appear within a little time, against all
the encroachments made upon the prerogatives of our Lord Jesus
Christ, particularly against Popery, Quakerism, and Prelacy, and all
their underlings and the joiners with them ; and against all Supre-
macy, which is contrary to the word of God ; and against all Eras-
tianism ; and against both the Indulgences, first and last ; and all the
joiners with, connivers at, and supporters of it ; and against the
silence in watchmen at this day, in not giving faithful warning, ac-
cording to that in Isaiah Iviii. i : * Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy
voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and
the house of Jacob their sins ; ' and against their ambiguous and
dark applications, so that the sin of the times is not touched, lest
they irritate the magistrate, and bring themselves in hazard of our
Lord's cross ; which was an evil, creeping in long ago, which the
Assembly condemned in the ministers, and ordered them to be
suspended, if they did not amend, and, seeing no humihation for such
a great sin, they were to be deposed.

" 2. I enter my protestation against all those who have declared
themselves opposite to our Lord Jesus Christ, and have displayed
a banner for Satan ; not only tolerating, but acting and committing
all manner of abominations, and horrid cruelties in things civil and
ecclesiastical.

" 3. I enter my protestation against all declarations, proclama-
tions, bonds, cess, and militia money, for keeping standing forces
with a displayed banner against our Lord ; and against all profanity,
looseness, and lukewarmness, and all the backslid ings of the Church
of Scotland, since our entering into covenant with God, to this day.

" Now, sirs, I have given you but a short hint of my faith and
principles, and also of the motives which moved me to join with the
serious seekers of God, and also the grounds of my indictment, and
sentence of death ; also some little glance at the corruptions of the
times. I have here joined my testimony to the sufferings of the
people of God, and I have entered my protestation against some
open sins, which are obvious to all who have not willingly yielded

64 A Cloud of Witnesses.

themselves to work wickedness. Oh ! It is but little that I can say ;
it would take a long summer day to rank them up, and not win \i.e., get]
at them all. For my part, I am but ignorant ; my capacity can but
reach little things. It may be, ye will take but little notice of what
the like of me says, but I cannot help it. Now, as a dying man, I
leave all these things to your consideration ; if this prelatic and in-
dulged party be the party to be meddled with and owned, pleaded
for and defended, what think ye of them that have gone before us ?
What think ye of Argyle, and Mr Guthrie, that were men of under-
standing ? What think ye of Mr Kid, and Mr King, and that gentle-
man that suffered last at the cross [Hackston of Rathillet] ? Nay,
what think ye of religion and the cost of it ? What think ye of
heaven and glory, that is at the back of the cross ? The hope of this
makes me look upon pale death as a lovely messenger to me. I
bless the Lord for my lot this day,

" I shall come shortly to a close, only I beg leave to speak a word
or two to three sorts of folks ; and, I think all may be comprehended
under these three. I entreat you, take heed ; I wish I may not be a
stumbling-block to any one that is looking on me this day. ' Blessed is
he,' says Christ, ' that shall not be offended in Me and my followers.'

" I. To the seekers of God. I have a word to you. Ye have
Kirk and State upon your top [/>., seeking your ruin]; ye get
leave to weep a long night, and have none to comfort you. And
if you cry, ' Watchman, what of the night ? ' the watchmen are
drunk and fallen asleep ; they cannot tell. Can these dry bones
live ? Lord, thou knowest. Ye are seeing the godly cut off,
one way and another. Ye are hearing them, that have the root of
the matter in them, crying up a sinful union, and ministers will not
tell you what is your duty or danger. Oh ! my dear friends, cast not
away your confidence. Ye must come through many tribulations;
but there is a begun heaven for you at night. Seek ye the Lord, ye
meek of the earth ; ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.
There is no persecution in heaven, where your Lord's enemies shall
never come. I shall not take upon me to say, who of them will not
come to heaven ; but this I may say ; if they come, it will be more
than ordinary humiliation they must have ; as it is said of Manasseh,
that ' he humbled himself greatly before the Lord God of his fathers.'
Friends, give our Lord credit ; He is aye \i.e., always] good ; but
oh ! He is good in a day of trial, and He will be sweet company
through the ages of eternity. There is none like the God of

High Ciicrch, Glasgow

Archibald Alison. 65

Jeshurun, that rides upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excel-
lency on the sky. And underneath are everlasting arms, and He
will save His people.

" 2. I have a word to say to you that are godly ; but, alas !
you have wronged the cause ; for which I fear you have lost
the countenance of God, and will not get it again in haste. Ye
have waxed fat and kicked. Ye have flung at God, so to speak. Ye
have laid a confederacy with enemies for a false peace. Ye ha\'e
been crying peace and imion with the indulged ; because they are
godly men. I say before the Lord, that ye and these godly men
liave most basely betrayed the Kirk of Scotland. Ye shall go to heaven
in a fiery chariot. Ye shall hardly get leave to suffer, but go away in a
stink {i.e., as an offence], for your complying and shunning the cross.

" 3. A word to the ungodly. Oh ! ye atheists and ungodly
magistrates, full of perjury, and bloodshed, ye have nourished your
hearts as in a day of slaughter. The blood of the Lord's martyrs,
that has been shed these eighteen or nineteen years within this city,
will be charged home upon you, as well as upon the assizers. Ye
counsellors, your work will be rewarded. Ye criminal lords, remem-
ber; 'the saints shall judge the earth,' and shall shortly be in equal
terms with you : and they shall stand upon Mount Zion with the
Lamb, and give their consents against you ; and shall shortly cry.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, to your condemnation ! And therefore I
obtest you, in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will desist
from your wicked courses, and lie in the dust, and mourn for all your
abominations. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish ! Ye
ignorant and profane drunkards, swearers and Sabbath breakers,
repent, or else ye shall likewise perish !

" And now, I take my farewell of all the serious seekers of God,
for a short time. And y.ou that are calm, prudent professors, I leave
you under process, till you repent for casting off Christ, and His
cross, and for bringing up an evil report on the good land, and for
your wronging of the cause. And ye rulers, farewell for ever more,
without repentance, and deep humiliation, for wronging of Christ and
His people ! Return, my soul, unto thy quiet rest. Farewell all created
comforts in time ; and welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; into
Thy hands I commit my spirit.

" Sic subscrihitur,

"ARCHIBALD ALISON."

John Malcolm.

]T will be seen from John Malcolm's testimony, and from the
list of the banished in the Appendix to this volume, that he
was at Bothwell Bridge, and was one of the many prisoners
taken after the battle. He was brought to Edinburgh, and, with
several hundred more, was confined in the open air in Greyfriars
Churchyard. After almost incredible privations, endured for nearly
five months, two hundred and fifty-seven of their number, John Mal-
colm among them, were given over to one Paterson, a merchant in
Leith, towards the close of 1679, to be shipped as slaves to the
plantations in North America. The usage they received on ship-
board was of the worst character. They had scarcely room to lie
down ; they were half-starved ; and, to add to their misery, the ship
met with such storm}' weather, that a fortnight was spent in reaching
the Pentland Firth. At last the vessel was wrecked on the Moul
Head of Deerness, so striking an object to the voyager as he nears the
Mainland of the Orkney Islands. Two hundred perished, and John
Malcolm was one of the fifty survivors. After this, he appears to
have joined the suffering remnant in the fields under Richard
Cameron, and was taken in the fatal encounter at Airsmoss.

The Bonds, protested against by Malcolm, and repeatedly alluded
to in the testimonies, were imposed at different times during the
twenty-eight years' persecution ; but that which caused most suffering
was the one issued in the close of 1677, or the beginning of 1678.
The general refusal to sign it throughout the West of Scotland, was
made the pretext for calling in the Highland host, and treating the
country as if it were an enemy's, to be plundered by the soldiery at
their will. Its ensnaring and cruel character will be best seen from
its terms. It made heads of families responsible for any one of their
household that attended a conventicle, and proprietors liable for the
acts of their tenants and cottars ; and forbade hospitality, or kindness,
or even shelter, to be given to the intercommuned ministers. The
following is a true copy of the Bond referred to :

John Malcolm. 67

"Glasgow, January 28, 1678. — "We faithfully bind and

oblige us, that we, our wives, bairns and servants respective, shall
no ways be present at any conventicles or disorderly meetings in
time coming, but shall live orderly, in obedience to the law, under
the pains and penalties contained in the Acts of ParHament made
there against : as also, we bind and oblige us, that our haill tenants
and cottars respective, their wives, bairns, and servants, shall like-
wise abstain and refrain from the said conventicles, and other
illegal meetings not authorised by the law, and that they shall live
orderly and in obedience to the same : and further, that we nor they
shall not reset, supply, or commune with forfeited persons, inter-
communed ministers, vagrant preachers, but shall do our utmost
endeavours to apprehend their persons ; and in case our said
tenants, cottars, or their foresaids shall contravene, we shall take
and apprehend any person or persons guilty thereof, and present
them to the judge ordinary, that they may be fined or imprisoned
therefor, as is provided by Acts of Parliament made there anent,
otherwise we shall remove them and their families off our ground ;
and if we fail herein, we shall be Hable to such pains and penalties as
the said delinquents have incurred bylaw. — Consenting thir presents,
etc., Subscribed /// supra^'

I'he Cess and Militia-money, mentioned in Malcolm's testi-
mony, and often referred to throughout the volume, was a tax im-
posed by the Convention of Estates, June 1678, for the purpose of
maintaining troops to put down the field-meetings. It was a great
grievance to the body of the nation. Parliament, rather than the
Convention of Estates, was the proper authority to impose taxes ; but
the Government would not summon a meeting of Parliament, lest it
proceed to discuss the grievances of the nation. In the proclamation
summoning the Convention, the troops, sought to be supported by
the expected Cess, are declared to be for the purpose of putting down
the execrable field conventicles. And lastly, in the Act of Convention
offering to the king the ;;^i, 800,000 pounds to be raised by the Cess,
the field-meetings are stigmatised as dangerous field conventicles and
rendezvouses of rebellion.

The Act of Convention led to much discussion, and the debates
upon the lawfulness or unlawfulness of paying the Cess were not few.
But debate as they might, all were ultimately forced to pay the tax
in some form or other, and the greatest severity was practised where
in any case it was refused. — Ed.]

68 A Cloud of Witnesses.

HE DYING TESTIMONY of John Malcolm, Weaver,
in the Parish of Dahy, in the Sheriffdom of Galloway,
who suffered Martyrdom at the Grassmarket of Edin-
(f burgh, August 13, 1680.

" I desire the audience of you, who are here spec-
^^^^ tators and auditors, to hear some words of a dying
7* man, ready to offer up this tabernacle in your sight.

1 would have it among my last wishes, that you would consider your
ways and your doings, that are not good ; and not harden your
hearts as in the provocation ; for ye have to do with an holy God,
wlio is quickly about to come, in flaming fire, to take vengeance on all
the ungodly profane persons who are living at ease in Zion, and re-
joicing in the afflictions of the people of God. I would obtest you
in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you would break off
your pernicious ways, and make peace with God, while He would
make peace with you, lest ye be destroyed in the overflowing flood ot
His wratli.

" There have been flockings and gatherings to see others who
are gone before me, that have been wonderfully countenanced
and owned with the evident presence of God ; convincingly helping
some to go through the jaws of death, rejoicing and looking profane
onlookers out of countenance, and have given their testimonies against
the abominations committed in the land. And I am come hither, who
am the unworthiest of any that has gone before me.

" Now, before I come further, I would ask you what you think of
religion ? What, think ye, can it be that makes men go to death
with so great peace and sweetness ? Ye have heard what m.alefactors
have had to say. Think ye not strange that a rational man can enter
in upon eternity leaving such a testimony as ye have heard ? And
I hope the Lord will help me, in less or more, to be faithful and free
in leaving my testimony in the sight and presence of Him, who is
the Sovereign Judge of all the earth, before whom I must stand in a
short time.

" The cause of my coming here this day is, because I was found
with that poor persecuted handful, which is the people that was
singly adhering to the honour and glory of God ; now when He is

yohn Malcolm. 69

threatening to bring in His sore plagues upon this apostate Church,
that has played the harlot with other lovers, for which He will bring
on indignation, wrath, and pain upon many.

" I. But this is ground of encouragement to the seekers of God ;
that He is keeping up a party in the lana that see it their duty to
contend for His cause and interest, and shall overcome through the
blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; who are not
loving their lives unto the death, to contend for His cause and
interest. For He hath said, in the seventh chapter of Ezekiel, i6th
verse, ' But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on
the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning,
every one for his iniquity.' Now, I seeing and considering upon
the one hand, what treacherous dealings are hatched up among
ministers and professors in this poor Church ; and on the other
hand, considering what the Lord had done formerly ; I thought 1
was convinced in conscience, and from respect to the honour oi
God, which I had before mine eyes, and the good of mine own
soul ; I was constrained by an influence of the Spirit bearing in
that word upon my heart, which we have in i Kings xviii. 21,
' And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt
ye between two opinions ? If the Lord be God, follow Him ; but
if Baal, then follow Him.'

" The Lord determined me to join myself with that party, and
I do not repent it this day. I count it my duty, and no sin
nor rebellion. I think it my credit to serve such a noble Master ;
and, indeed, I wonder at His condescendency, that ever He sought
service from such a wretched sinner as I have been, who lived
a stranger to Him all my days. But, O wonderful love ! Oh ! I
wonder at the matchless acts of the Lord's condescendency and
incomprehensible ways with me ! that He has made choice of such
a poor, weak, frail pickle of dust as I am, and has led me out
and in, and has brought me to this place of execution to give my
testimony to His work, cause, and interest ; and has passed by the
eminent, wise, and prudent in the land, and has made choice of such
a feckless [;>., worthless] nothing as I am. But blessed be His
glorious name, that will have His word made out, that out of the
mouth of babes and sucklings He can perfect His praise.

" 2. And this, likewise, is a ground of hope to you that are weak
and cannot venture on suffering, being sensible of your own weakness
— ' To the weak He increaseth strength.' And this is another ground

70 A Cloud of Witnesses.

of hope — That He takes the blood and wounds of poor weak things
to seal His truths.

" It cannot be expected that I shall be very formal in what I say,
I being no scholar, nor yet old in experience. And besides, after I
had received my sentence, I was taken out of a private room and
put in the irons among bad com])any, except two days before this.

" The ground of my indictment was, i. ' That I came against the
King's forces, under the command of [Bruce of] Earlshall, and fired
upon them.' I declare, I intended not to resist, but being put to it
in defence of the Gospel, and my own defence, I did resist them
to my power.

"2. * That I had been with that party in the months of April,
May, and June.' I was but two days with them, intending no other
thing but to hear the Gospel, and for this I suffer ; I bless the Lord,
not as an evil doer, but for my duty ; for ye know we are all bound
in covenant, both Kirk and vState, according to the Coronation-oath,
and the Covenants were owned and sworn, both by the supreme magis-
trate, the nobles, gentry, and commons of all sorts. The Lord did
wonderfully shine upon this land, so that it became the glory of the
whole world ; the fame of it went abroad, and was renowned through
the nations. I have heard, that if a stranger of another kingdom
had come into a church in this land, there was such a frame of spiriL
among the people, that the stranger would have thought that they
had been all saints. The Church then was fair as the moon, clear
as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. But we have not
been content with these days. Then the swearer was bound up
from oaths, and the drunkard's throat ran dry ; iniquity stopped her
mouth. The Lord was with His people in those days ; the Gospel
was successful.

"And yet I can say, there have been as great days of the Gospel
in the west of Scotland in the foresaid months, in the fields, as were
in Scotland, since it was Scotland. I am sure, the Gospel preached
by Mr Richard Cameron especially was backed with the power and
presence of Christ. As much of Christ and heaven were found, as
finite creatures on earth were able to hold, yea, and more than they
could hold ; the streams of the living waters ran through among His
people, at these meetings, like a flood upon the souls of many, who
can witness, if they were called to it, that they would not have been
afraid of ten thousands ; * The shout of a king was heard among
them.'

John Malcolm. 71

" The fruits of it, I am hopeful, shall appear after this ; all the
troopers and dragoons in the three kingdoms, will never get that fire
of love quenched that is kindled in the breasts of some in that
country ; it will never be quenched. It will not rot ; the fathers
will be telling the children of it, when they are old men, who are not
taken away with the wrath that is coming on, to avenge the quarrel
of a broken Covenant. They will be telling, that ' in the year
1680 there were as great days, as there are now; when there were
prelates through these lands, upon the mountains up and down this
west; it was then that I got on the zeal of God upon my soul.'
And they shall say, ' who were they that preached in mosses and
mountains, and not in the kirks nor houses ? Did not all the godly
ministers, when the apostate prelates were in the land, go out and
witness and testify against them, with their lives in their hands ?' And
the fathers will say, ' Know, my children, they had run well for a season;
but they wearied, and yielded up the Church's liberties to a tyrant king,
of the name of Charles; and he set up the prelates, and they made the
land full of curates under them ; and after that, some, that stayed off a
while, then turned council-curates, and these council-curates beguiled
the rest of them ; and Erastianism was universal ; but the moderate
indulged in judgment would have silenced Mr Richard Cameron
from preaching ; but the Lord had said to him, " Go, and I will go
with thee ; " and so he was wonderfully helped. Indeed, the Lord
countenanced him after that, and deserted them ; and he died a
martyr, and had his head set up upon a port [z>., gateway], beside
other three of his brethren, and many of these that ^\Tote against
him, and had him in derision, went away with a stink.' They will
have this to say, and tell to the young ones yet unborn. ' The
righteous man shall be had in everlasting remembrance.' Indeed,
my friends, if any such be hearing me, I may say, truly a great man
in our I.srael fell at Airsmoss, the 2 2d of July 1680.

" And now, if I were set at liberty, with a provision that I were
not found with Mr Donald Cargill (whom I pray the Lord may keep
from sinning), I would yet again join with that persecuted party,
although they should use me as they did that eminently worthy
gentleman that suffered before us [Hackston of Rathillet].

" So I am not in the dark, how and for what I suffer. I am clear
that I was in my duty, and I have peace in it since, and I grow
still clearer in it ; glory to His name ; for it is true that after I got
my indictment and received my sentence, I wanted the countenance

72 A Cloud of Witnesses.

of God ; for I never knew that the Lord loved me, but since that
time \ but I was never in the dark about the righteousness of the
cause. I knew it would bear a suffering unto blood and death. And
now, I am clear of my interest, and clear as to the grounds that I
am laying down my life for this day. I could wish that every hair
of my head were a life for His sake, and His persecuted cause.

" I die in the faith of the true Protestant religion, in doctrine, disci-
pline, and worship, as it was received in the year 1638 and in the year
1649. I join my adherence to the government of this Church, as
it was reformed from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and Supremacy.
And I join my cordial testimony to the Church's laws and statutes
at that time, as she was governed by general assemblies, synods, pres-
byteries, visitations and sessions ; and to days of humiliation for sins,
solemn days of thanksgiving in receipt of mercies bestowed, and
censures for trying out persons of erroneous principles, either ministers
or private persons. I adhere to the Confession of Faith ; the Larger
and Shorter Catechisms ; the solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and
Engagement to Duties; the National and Solemn League and Cove-
nant ; and the protestation at St Johnstoun \i.e., Perth]. I join my
testimony to, and approbation of these papers at Queensferry, the third
of June 1680. I adhere to that faithful testimony at Rutherglen, the
29th of May 1679. I jo^^ ^^7 testimony to that last testimony or de-
claration, affixed upon the market-cross of Sanquhar, the 2 2d of June
1680. I witness my testimony to the late appearance at Airsmoss, the
2 2d of July 1680, where the Lord's worthies fell. Likewise I witness
my testimon}', and set to my seal against that horrid murder of that
eminently worthy and famous godly gentleman, David Hackston of
Rathillet. Likewise against all the bloodshed in fields, scaffolds,
and the sea, these 19 years. And I enter my protestation against
Popery, Quakerism, Supremacy, Erastianism, Indulgences first and
last, and against arbitrary power over civil and ecclesiastic matters,
further than the bounds appointed in the word of God.

" Likewise I witness my testimony against the pleaders for union,
siding, joining, halving with usurpers of Christ's crown ; silence in
watchmen ; and all their contrivances, impositions, instructions, or
limitations they put upon the young men to be licentiate; prescribing
a rule to them, to order their ministry so and so ; their papers and
pamphlets they have put out lately, to lead men over to that woful
Indulgence, under the fair pretext of union ; which is dreadful under-
hand dealing, to bring the people under the shadow of the Lord's ad-

John Malcolm. 73

versaries. I enter my protestation against that national declaration
put forth in the year 1661 [/>., the act asserting the royal prerogative],
and all their declarations since, and all their bonds and oaths imposed
upon the Lord's people. Likewise, against the paying of the cess
and militia money; and against their imprisonments, stigmatising,
booting and burning with fire-matches, fining and confining, robbing
and spoiling, banishment, oppression, rigour of masters of tolbooths.

"And because of that mistake, which they say in my indictment —
that Presbyterians, and I amongst the rest, had cast off all fear of God
and are against all good order and civil law; I declare I adhere to kingly
government, but not to perjury and tyranny, turning upside down
Church and State, contrary to the word of God, our Covenants, and
the laws of the nation, and contrary to the declaration at Dunfermline,
the coronation-oath, and the acts of general assembly, and acts of
Parliament ratifying Presbytery, and abjuring this prelatic hierarchy,
which is now re-established, and Presbytery rescinded. And I bear
my testimony against those that have been and yet are pleading for
the favour (as they call it) of the Act of Indemnity, after the murder-
ing of Mr King and Mr Kid, who were executed on the day that
the proclamation was read over the Cross, the 14th day of August
1679 ; and against their Justiciary Courts, to ensnare and pannel the
poor people of God in the west of Scodand.

" I shall draw to a close shortly ; but I might, if I had time,
enlarge further upon these. I will say only this to you, who are
looking upon me this day, that my lot is hard, but I bless the Lord
for it. The Captain of my salvation was made perfect through
suffering. No man has wronged me by counsel or advice, for I am
persuaded that the cause is the Lo.rd Jesus Christ's cause, and He
will own it. And whoso touches any of His people, touches the
apple of His eye. For He sends none a warfare upon their own
charges, and in His own time He will make inquisition for the blood
of all His saints, because it is right precious in His sight. And when
He makes inquisition after their blood, and searches them out that
troubled His people, I would not be the king of Britain, nor a
counsellor, prelate, nor malignant, for a world ; and whatever I be, yet
I am persuaded, that they have the blood of His dear saints in their
skirts, which are this day under the altar, crying, ' How long, O Lord,
holy and just, wilt Thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on
the earth?'

" You got Mr King's advice on the scaffold, to be more sparing of

74 A Cloud of Witnesses.

shedding more blood ; for within a short time he told you, he would
be on equal terms with you, that judged him guilty of death ; but that
doth not warn the rulers of this kingdom. Do not think that I am
quarrelling for the taking of my blood. No; it is love for your souls
that obliges me to speak thus. Oh ! what can be expected but that
the Lord has His sword furbished for blood, and He will have a day
of nobles' blood. The Lord has been smiting and wounding His
Church and people, and blood has touched blood. Pentland hills
hath touched Mr Guthrie's blood: and Bothwell touched Pentland, and
the drowned in the sea touched Bothwell ; and Airsmoss the drowned
in the sea; and our blood toucheth that which was spilt the 22d of
July last. Oh ! that at last ye would be persuaded to desist and spill
no more blood ; Oh ! that the Lord himself would stop the effusion of
more innocent blood, if it may stand with His honour. But if any
more may be for His honour and service, Lord, keep Thy people,
when they are called to it, to say with David, ' Here am \, let Him
do with me as seemeth Him good ! '

" I am also apprehensive, that the Lord hath a great sacrifice of the
l)odies of multitudes, and that He will give the flesh and blood of
many to the fowls of the air ; and He minds to give the fowls and
birds a feast of flesh and blood. O Scotland, wilt thou never be made
wise, until thou be betrayed into the hands of thine enemies ? Truly
I think, it is incredible, that this land will get leave to pass long, and
not be swept with the besom of justice ; the Lord is really angry
with this land ; for I know no person, no, not one, but He has a just
ground of controversy with. It is astonishing to me to think on the
sparing mercies of God towards these lands. For my part, I am glad
that He calls me away after this manner, for which I desire with my soul
to bless Him for His kindness to me, in taking this method and way
with such a wretched sinner as I am, who deserve nothing but wrath,
and only wrath. But glory to the riches of His free grace, ' who came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief ! ' He is a
noble High Priest indeed !

" I must draw to a close : I entreat your patience a little, and I
shall say but these three or four things shortly.

" I. I would entreat you, that are strangers to God, make haste
and flee in unto God for your life ; from this consideration, that all
who had union and communion with God, and are now landed in
glory, have died in the faith of it, that there are glorious days coming,
and that the Lord will reckon with His enemies, and pay them liber-

J olui JMalcolm. 75

ally for all the wrongs done unto His cause and people. ' And it
shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of
the high ones, that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the
earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered
in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days
shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the
sun ashamed, when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in mount Zion and
in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously.' You may read it
at your leisure, in the 24th chapter of Isaiah, from the 21st verse to
the end. There is another word in the 36th chapter of Job, i8th
verse. It is a word of advice, given by Ehhu to Job : ' Because
there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away uith His stroke ; then
a great ransom cannot deliver thee.'

"2. It is my comfort this day, that my enemies are God's ene-
mies. It is the allowance He bestows on poor things, in the following
of their duty ; though they have not much knowledge in religion, nor
great experience, yet if they be faithful in the little, He helps them
to be faithful in much. Ye know He says, ' Because thou hast been
faithful in what I committed to thee, have thou rule over five cities.'
I know that it is commonly reported, that they have not much
grace, that adhere to this persecuted way ; as I take in myself among
them, who never had great gifts, nor parts, nor heart experience;
yet He has told me, since I received the sentence of death by men
who are the Lord's sword, that faithfulness in this juncture of time,
in not denying His name, shall be an excuse for many infirmities.
Airong all the strong contenders, none get the prize but the sincere
man, the resolute man, and they who are determined, as Esther was,
to go, though it should cost them their life. And this is the time
that the people of God should be at holding and drawing, rugging
and riving \i.e., earnestly struggling] ere the enemies of our Lord
possess His crown, and bruik [/>., enjoy] it with peace. And this I
must add to these that are biassed : I shall be a dying witness against
ministers and professors that made it their work to brand and clothe
that faithful minister \i.e., Mr Richard Cameron] and martyr of Jesus
Christ, with odious names and notorious lies, in calling him a Jesuit,
and saying that he received the Pope's gold, and that he was a great
favourite of the Duke of York, a declared papist ; while I know, and
many eminent Christians know, that he hated him as a limb of Satan ;
and also they said, that the troopers had commission to pass him by
rather than any man, even after the declaration came out ; to give

A Cloud of Witnesses.

5000 merks for him, dead or alive ! Go and lie in the dust for what
ye have said of him, and what ye have said of Mr Kid ; I bless the
Lord, that ever I saw his face, and that ever I heard him preach.

"3. (jive me leave to say this much; I am afraid the apostacy
of Scotland, the neutrality and formality that are among both ministers
and professors, have shapen out this Church and land of Britain, in
length and breadth, with the Church of Laodicea, whom the Lord
threatens to spue out of His mouth as a loathsome thing, and then He
will have pleasure in His Zion. Yet ye see He is snedding down
[/.<'., lopping off] a Guthrie, a Wellwood, a King, a Kid, a Brown,
and a Cameron, and the like of a Henry Hall and a Robert Dick,
that were contending for the truth, and for restoring the privileges of
the Church. And these were counted disturbers of your sinful union
with the enemies of the Lord ! Lay it to heart ; now their blood is
shed for the cause, and ye are not free of it ; but ye can wipe your
mouth, and say ye are innocent ! Remember that in the 50th Psalm
and 1 8th verse, ' AVhen thou savvest a thief, then thou consentedst
with him.' And this the Lord hath seen, and kept silence ; remember
and mourn for it, lest He tear you in pieces when there is none to
deliver. The court favour is too short a covering, it will not hide
you ; therefore, as a dying man, I warn you as from the Lord ; con-
sider your ways and your doings that have not been good, and cast
yourselves out of the court favour, otherwise, I declare, ye shall not
get the favour of God.

" 4. If ye will set about some days of humiliation before the
Lord, and take with you your sins and the sin of crying up this
clatty \i.e., dirty] liberty, which is the price of blood ; if ye will return
unto the Lord, then return with all your heart ; for He is merciful
and gracious, and repents Him of the evil that He threatens, neither
will He give way to His anger. He did so to me. I no sooner
began to look to Him but He made me welcome, and put me to work,
though I be but young, and know nothing. He w^as tender of me.
He took me to Bothwell Bridge to own His cause ; and I had many
temptations to stay ; what from my mother, and from one hand and
another; but I durst not for my soul stay behind. I thought it
my duty to join myself with that party against the Lord's enemies,
and the Lord was good to me there, many ways. He covered my
head in the day of battle, and suffered not one hair of my head to fall
to the ground, and He suffered many, better than me a thousand times,
to fall on all hands of me. So I thought then I held my life of Him;

John Malcolm. 77

and the Lord brought me to the Greyfriars Churchyard ; though I
came ahiiost naked, yet He mounted me better than ever I was
before with clothes, and wonderfully provided for me beyond many
others. I bless the Lord, my mother's sickness did not keep me
from Bothwell Bridge ; and when I was in the Greyfriars Church-
yard, I was threatened with death by the Justice-General, who swore
a great oath that I should die if I would not take the Bond. I
told him, as it was true, that many better than I had been hanged ;
but I was brought out of his hand, and the Lord took me to the sea,
and did deliver me from the ragings thereof, when He suffered many
better to lose their lives. And when He laid His hand upon me by
sickness, He made me to be favoured by all my enemies. He healed
me, and brought me home, and then He called me out to hear the
Gospel, for which I desire to bless Him, and within a little while I
shall praise Him for it. The Lord was so seen amongst His perse-
cuted handful there, that He did engage me to join with them, who
were hazarding their lives upon the fields for Him. I was at that late
engagement [Airsmoss], and the Lord took some work off my hand
there, and has brought me to this place this day to lay down my life
for His sake. And this is the last combat I shall have. I shall work
no more ; I shall suffer no more ; I shall fear no more ; I shall sin
no more. I must take my leave of you all, and so rest in His love.
I go where all tears shall be wiped away ; where the servant is made
free from his master ; to the land where the inhabitants shall not say
they are sick.

" Now be not discouraged at the ways of God's providence to me,
for I can assure you the cause is His own, and He will own it. ' For
lo, thine enemies shall perish.' I would have every one of you seek-
ing the favour of God, for ye will have ado with it at death and judg-
ment. The greatest persecutor or malignant will have sore missing of
His favour in that day. O seek Him in time ! and the Lord help His
poor young wrestling people well through their trials ! The Lord help
them to be faithful, and to endure to the end, for they have the pro-
mise of being saved. Join with His people, and cast in your lot with
them, and do not stand on the other side ; let His cause be your cause
in weal and woe. O noble cause ! O noble vvork ! O noble heaven !
O noble Christ, that makes it to be heaven ! And He is the owner
of the v/ork. O noble Mediator of the new covenant ! O noble
Redeemer, who is powerful to help in time of need, and will help
such as trust in Him ! There was never one that trusted in Him

/S A Cloud of IVitnesses.

that came to loss. He made them aye up [i.e., always recompensed
themj sometimes with an hundred-fold in this life, and heaven after.
I lay down my life, not as an evil-doer, but as a sufferer for Christ.

" I shall say no more, but a word or two. One is, anent that
which some would be informed in; whether I took the Bond that was
tendered to the prisoners [taken after Bothwell Bridge] ? I acknow-
ledge there was a supplication drawn up containing two articles ; one
was, craving the benefit of the Act of Indemnity , the second was, that
I should not lift arms against the king or any lawful authority ; but
because it was not authority only, but lawful authority, it was not
granted. And at that time there were pains taken by some persons
of note, that persuaded men to take the Bond as it was tendered by the
bloody Council. Indeed, it hath been a thing heavier than the sand
to me, and hath made me groan. I think for that and for many other
private failings the Lord did not give me His countenance. The
Lord pardon, as I hope He will, that I should have put my hand to
a pen, and blacked paper in that supplication ; but for the Bond,
I bless the Lord I did not subscribe it !

" The second thing I am reputed guilty of is, that I suppUcated
for a delay some short time, and that I called it rebellion that I was
at Airsmoss. Indeed, I subscribed no such thing ; but it was only
this, that it might please them to grant us some more time, for we
were in confusion, because of the shortness of the time. We desired
some more time, that we might gel our souls' case laid to heart, and
our peace made with God through Jesus Christ.

" I shall say no more, but \vish that ye would all seek repent-
ance in time, before it be hid from your eyes. I recommend my
spirit to Him that is able to save to the uttermost all that come to
Him through Christ, and desire to take my leave of all created com-
forts. Farewell all relations ; farewell world ; farewell sin ! Welcome
Christ, welcome heaven, and glory for evermore !
" Sic subscribitur,

" JOHN MALCOLM."

James Skene.

AMES SKENE was connected with the best famihes in
Aberdeenshire ; his brother's estate of Skene being in the
parish of that name, about ten miles to the west of Aberdeen.
His association v/ith Richard Cameron is somewhat remarkable, as he
came from a county, the stronghold of prelatic principles in the North,
as is manifest from the strong expressions in his letters to Mr Wil-
liam Alexander and other of his friends. He was apprehended on
the charge of being a hearer of Donald Cargill, at a time when he had no
idea that even his name was known as one attached to the persecuted
cause. Nothing could be brought against him, save what he himself
said. He was sentenced to be hanged on the 24th November. He
obtained a respite for eight days, but at its expiry was hanged at
the Market Cross of Edinburgh, at the same time with John Potter
and Archibald Stewart, whose testimonies follow.

Skene's testimony against the tyranny and illegal character of many
of the acts of the Government is expressed in stronger language
than almost any other in the volume. The compilers of the " Cloud,"
in a note, guard against taking his expressions in a wrong sense.
Wodrow finds much fault with the compilers for publishing Skene's
testimony at all ; he fears lest its strong language may lead Papists
and Prelatists to bespatter the Protestant religion and Presbyterians
in general. But no one who now dispassionately reads Wodrow's
own history will entertain such thoughts. Indeed the marvel is, that
the sufferers were able to restrain their just indignation, and speak
so calmly as they did.

The Hamilton Declaration, noticed by Skene, and repeatedly re-
ferred to throughout the volume, was one of the papers issued between
the battle of Drumclog and that of Bothwell Bridge. It stated the
reasons for continuing in arms. i. The defence of the Protestant
religion, as established by law and sworn to by all ranks in the Cove-
nants, and more particularly the defending and maintaining the
kingly authority of our Lord Jesus Christ over His church. 2. The

8o A Cloud of Witnesses.

preserving and defending the king's majesty's person and authority
in the preservation and defence of the true religion and Hberties of
the kingdom. 3. The obtaining a free and unhmited Parhament,
and a free General Assembly. The second of the above reasons
gave offence to many, who believed it worse than useless to speak
of defending the king's authority, when he had during a long course
of years given so many proofs of his desire to take away liberty,
and to rule as an irresponsible monarch.

Of the members of the Privy Council mentioned by James Skene
as present at his examination, "York" was the Duke of York, after-
wards James VII. of Scotland. Though a Papist, he regularly
attended the examinations of the persecuted Presbyterians. When
any one was to be struck in the Boots, it had to be done in the
presence of the Council. Burnet says : " Upon that occasion, almost
all run away. The sight is so dreadful, that without an order restrain-
ing such a number to stay, the board would be forsaken. But the
Duke was so far from withdrawing, that he looked on all the while
with an unmoved indifference, and with an attention as if he had been
to look on some curious experiment. This gave a terrible idea of
him to all that observed it, as of a man that had no bowels nor huma-
nity in him."

" Rothes" was the Duke of Rothes, and Lord Chancellor.

" Burnet" was Alexander Burnet, Bishop of Glasgow. He coun-
selled the hanging of all the prisoners taken at Pentland, if they would
not renounce the Covenant. He died in 1684.

" Paterson " was John Paterson, Bishop of Edinburgh ; translated
from the diocese of Galloway in 1679. In 1687, he was appointed
Archbishop of Glasgow. The Revolution deprived him of his digni-
ties. He died at Edinburgh in 1708. If the pamphleteers of that
age are to be believed, his moral character was not of a high order.

" The Advocate " was Sir George M'Kenzie of Rosehaugh ; a man
remarkable for his literar}^ attainments, and occupying an honourable
place among the wTiters of his age ; but, as a public prosecutor, he
was merciless. His remains lie in the Greyfriars Churchyard, and
tradition still points out his tomb as that of " bloody M'Kenzie."

" Clerk Paterson " was Sir William Paterson, made clerk to the
Privy Council in 1679.

" Linlithgow" was the Earl of Linlithgow ; who was general over
the royal troops previous to Bothwell Bridge, until the chief com-
mand was assigned by the king to the Duke of Monmouth.

James Ske?ie.

THE BOOTS.

" Hatton " was Sir Charles Maitland, Lord Hatton, a younger
brother of the Duke of Lauderdale. He was Master-general of
the Mint, and for some time was Lord Justice-Clerk. Shortly after
Skene*s execution the Duke of Lauderdale died, August 24, 1682,
and in the following October Sir Charles Maitland became Earl of
Lauderdale. Being accused of malversation in his management of
the Mint, he was found guilty, and, in addition to being heavily fined,
was deprived of all his offices. With him fell the power of the
Maitlands,

Skene mentions that he was accompanied to prison by Archibald
Stewart and John Sproul. Stewart's testimony follows Mr Skene's.
John Sproul was an apothecary in Glasgow. He was twice put to
the torture in the Boots ; and, having been fined ;^5oo sterling, was
afterwards confined for six years in the Bass Rock. He survived
the Revolution, and received from his friends the compellation of
" Bass John Sproul," whereof, says Wodrow, he needs not to be
ashamed.

Mr M'Ward, mentioned by Skene, was the well-known amanuensis
of Samuel Rutherford while at the Westminster Assembly ; he suc-
ceeded Andrew Gray in Glasgow. In 1661 he was charged with
treasonable preaching, and banished the kingdom. He went to

82 A Clond of Wiinesses.

Utrecht, and then to Rotterdam, where he died December 1681.
His Ufe is m the " Scots Worthies." The letter referred to is in
"Wodrow."— Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Mr James Skene, Brother
to the Laird of Skene, who suffered at Edinburgli,
December i, 1680.

His Interrogations and Answers before the Privy
Comicil, related by himself in a letter to his Brother :

V " Dear Billie [i.e., Brother, from same root as

the German, ' billig ' equal, fair], — To satisfy your desire, I send you
this line to let you know, that when I came before the Council (York
and Rothes being there, two Bishops, viz., Burnet and Paterson, the
Advocate, Clerk Paterson, Linlithgow, and many more, sitters and
standers, Dalziel, the General, being porter, walking proudly up and
down, not as a servant), none was admitted to come in with me. I
saluted them all civilly, and kept off my hat, because they kept oft",
that they might not say that I was a Quaker.

" Rothes asked me. Was I at Bothwell or Airsmoss ? I answered,
I was at home in the north both these times.

" They asked. If I did own Sanquhar Declaration and the Testi-
mony at Rutherglen ? I told them, I did own them both.

" He asked. Did I own the king's authority ? I said, in so far as
it was against the Covenant and interest of Christ, I disowned it.

" He asked me. Thought I it not a sinful murder the killing of
the Arch-prelate [James Sharp] ? I said, I thought it was their duty
to kill him when God gave them opportunity ; for he had been the
author of much bloodshed.

" They asked me, A\Tiy I carried arms ? I told them it was for self-
defence, and the defence of the Gospel.

" They asked me. Why I poisoned my ball ? I told them I
wished none of them to recover whom 1 shot.

" He asked me, Why I carried a durk? I told them they might
ask Mr George Mackenzie, if it was not our country fashion ; and he
presently told the Chancellor that it was so.

James Skene. 83

" They asked if I knew Cargill ? I said it was my comfort I knew
him. Then they reproached him, and me for conversing with him.
I said, I bless God, He gave me sweet peace in it.

•' They asked, Would I kill the soldiers, being the king's ? I said
it was my duty, if I could, when they persecuted God's people.

•' They asked, If I would kill any of them ? I said they were all
stated [/>., declared] enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, by the
Declaration at Sanquhar, I counted them my enemies.

" They asked. If I would think it my duty to kill the King ? I
said, he had stated himself an enemy to God's interest, and there was
war declared against him. I said, the Covenant made with God
was the glory of Scotland, though they had unthankfuUy counted
it their shame. And m direct terms I said to the Chancellor, ' Sir, I
have a parchment at home wherein your father's name is, and you
are bound by that as well as I.'

"They asked, Why I called the Chancellor 'Sir.' I said, 'Sir'
was a title for a king, and it might serve him.

" The Chancellor asked, If I knew his Royal Highness? I said
I never saw such a person.

" York looks out by [/>., from where he was], for he sat in the
shadow of Bishop Burnet, and said, Why did I wish the king so
ill ? I told, I wished no ill to any, but as they were in opposition
to God, I wished them brought down. And he spoke no more.

•' The Chancellor said, Would I not adhere to the Acts of Parlia-
ment of this kingdom ? I said, I would not own any of them which
were in opposition to God and His Covenant.

" Mr Mackenzie said, ' If the king were riding by m coach, would
ye think it no sin to kill him?' I said, by the Sanquhar Declaration,
there was war declared against him, and so he needed not put that
in question.

"So Mr Mackenzie came out by to the bar, and said, ' I know
your relations and mine are sib, \t.e., connected by blood] be in-
genuous in all that is demanded of you, and I will save you from
torture.'

" I said, ' Sir, I know you, and ye know me and my relations. I
have been as free and ingenuous as I could imagine, because I
reckon it my credit and my glory to give a full and free confession
for my blessed Lord's interest that is reproached and borne down.'

"They asked me, where I saw Cargill last? I said, I met with
him last in the West Bow, to my comfort.

84 -^ i Cloud of Witnesses.

" They asked me, Who were owners of the house ? J. said, I
really could not tell them ; I knew them not.

" They said, Would I know the house ? I said, Yes.

" They said, Would I show it to some whom they would send
with me? I told them I was free in what concerned myself; but to
hurt any else, I could not mar my peace with God ; but if they were
advertised to go out of the house, I should show it them.

"Then they desired me to go my ways. The General [Dalziel]
opened the door, and rounded [i.e., whispered] in my ear, ' Ye must
go tlown with some soldiers, and shovv them that house.' I said, ' I
will not do it to hurt any : these indwellers must be advertised to
flee the house first.'

"Then I was ordered to the guard, which was of Linlithgow's
soldiers, which took me, and walked (after Archibald Stewart and John
Sproul, who were examined) to the Tron ; and back to the Council
house of the town, I being alone, and only six soldiers with me.
I took me to prayer, and was comforted ; and then sent money for
meat and drink : and then worshipped in public with the soldiers.

At night, a person from J , kindly wakened me, and brought me

bread and ale and sugar, and some confected caraway. After that I
was carried to a committee, where were present the Chancellor, Hatton,
Paterson, Justice-Clerk, Wigtown, and Linlithgow ; and they showed
me two letters of mine to Mrs Simpson, wherein I owned the De-
claration at Sanquhar, and told I would do much to persuade many
that it was just, from Mr M 'Ward's advice that was given to the
prisoners. I owned the letters, and told them I did what I could
to dissuade professors from paying them cess, which they ordered
for bearing down the Gospel : at which they laughed.

" The Chancellor said, Why did I not call him Lord ? I told
him, were he for Christ's interest, I would honour him. Then he
said, he cared not for my honour ; but he would have me to know he
was Chancellor. I said, I knew that. He said I was not a Scots-
man but a Scot.s-beast. At which Wigtown gloomed [i.e., frowned]
at him, and he laughed. He then rounded [i.e., whispered] to me,
that he would be my friend, would I be ingenuous. I told him, I
wished him no ill.

" They asked me, What Mr William Alexander was it, that I
wrote of? I said that Mr Paterson the bishop, and Mr Ross, at
Glasgow, knew him, and persecuted him unjustly. I then related
to them how it was. Paterson said, I told that which I knew not

yarnes Skene. 85

to be truth ; he pitied me. He said to the Chancellor, Certainly I
forgot to write.

" I was before the Justiciary Court, where my confession was
read, and after I read it again, and told them I thought it my
honour to subscribe to it. I assented to all that was recorded by
the clerk ; I owned it, and counted it my honour so to do. The
Justice-Clerk Hatton's son being there, said he pitied me, I being a
gentleman ; he knew my friends. I said, were I an Earl's son I
would esteem it my honour. I desired them to canvass [/>., con-
sider] well what they did, for they would be panneled before God
for it. He said I might prepare for another world. I said, I hoped
the Lord would prepare me.

" Now, dear Billie, I have given you an account of the truth, as I
confusedly remember ; but I entreat you, take all the praise you give
me, and put it upon my Lord, for I am but a poor, simple, sinful
worm. It is from Him I had this courage.

" Wigtown and the Justice-Clerk desired me to show them that
house, saying, that I was free enough in all except that ; and if I were
obstinate, I might belike get the Boots. I said, let them do with me
what they pleased ; in what concerned myself I was free ; but to do
hurt to others I would not, to bring them under their wrath. I would
not mar my peace with God so far.

" The General said. He would parole \i.e., engage] to me, that the
indwellers of the house should be advertised. I said, I would not
have his parole.

"The Chancellor, boasted [/.^., threatened] me for denying his
parole. I said to the Chancellor, I was a gentleman that had blood
relation to his relations, the Earl of Mar's mother and I being sister-
bairns [/>., cousins]. He said, He was sorry I was so related. I
said, The cause I was there owning honoured me; and I would it
befel my friends. So this I hope; you will not critically reflect on
my confused writing, since I am in haste ; ye know, it may be,
I may be cited before these bloody men this forenoon. I will not
order for my funeral, till I know my sentence. I may possibly not
be allowed a burial. My Lord comforts me, and I leave all on
Him to bear me through this storm, through the valley and shadow
of death.

" Dear Billie, bid all ye see of our serious friends help me with
their prayers, that I may be helped of the Lord to be faithful unto
the death, and that He will give me the faith of assurance, that I

86 A Cloud of Witnesses.

shall enjoy my Lord's love through all eternity. The want of this
clouds me much, 1 am so unworthy a wretch. I am,

" Dear Billie, your unworthy friend, and loving Brother,

"JAMES SKENE."

" From my Lord Jesus, His house, which He has made a sweet
palace, wherein He shows me His wonderful free love ; the close
prison above the Iron House, in the high Tolbooth of Edinburgh,
November 1680.

" J^.S. — I told the Chancellor the cause was just, whereby the king
and others were excommunicate [at the Torwood] ; though I was not
there, yet I adhered to it.

LETTER from Mr Jaisies Skene: " To all professors in
the shire of Aberdeen ; especially Mr William Alex-
ander, Mr William Mitchell, and Mr John Watson,
my dear acquaintances. Being the last Testimony
for the interest of Christ from James Skene, now in
close prison for Christ's interest, in the Tolbooth of
Edinburgh."

" Dear Friends, — The Lord having dealt so graciously with mc
in wonderful free love, as to bring me to the love of Himself, His
truth, and despised interest, as that He engaged me in a particular
covenant with Himself, which, by His honouring me to make me a
prisoner to evil men, for His despised interest. He has evidently con-
firmed to me, that He accepted of my bargain with Himself, when
most unworthy and wretched ; though many times by reason of a pre-
vailing body of sin and death, I provoked Him to cast [i.e., break]
the bargain ; yet still by new obligations. He engaged me to renew it.

" My mercy has been great, that Providence ordered sometime
my coming South, where most suffering has been for our Lord, and
for that reason most light has been given to professors here, that
they might see what was clear duty in these trying, tempting, and
backsliding times. And whenever the Lord helped me to see our
covenant obligations, which are the glory of Scotland, I was serious
and zealous, ye know, to impart to all of you, whom I was acquaint
with. The Lord always making my love to Him to abound, I thought

y times Skene. Sy

no travail ill wared [i.e., laid out], or any hazard too great on any
occasion, whereby I might propagate His despised interest among you.

" You know how much I have contended with you for paying
of that cursed cess, ordered by the Convention of Estates for bearing
down the Gospel ; as I was honoured to witness against it at a com-
mittee on Saturday last, at night. You are not aware how you bring
the blood of saints on your heads by this obedience to the stated
enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your opposing of that which
was and is the judgment of the most tender professors (in with-
drawing from indulged ministers, and from these ministers that
favoured them, and so did not, nor would not declare against the
Indulgence as a sin that most heinously and rebelliously dishonours
our blessed Lord as head of the Church, and sets up a tyrannous
usurper in His place), was a particular I much contended [i.e., insisted
on] with many of you, on my hearing you pleading for a sinful union
with those who have conspired to dethrone our blessed Lord. Some of
you opposed that which was an honourable testimony for our Lord at
Rutherglen, and that declaration at Sanquhar, and the testimony or
covenant that was taken at the Queensferry ; calling these rash and
inconsiderate ! whom the Lord called out to be valiant contenders for
His truth and interest (which is now contemned by a wicked apostate
generation), and to seal all of them with blood.

" By all these the Lord has been calling His people to come out
from among Babel's brood ; its cursed brood, who by many subtile
satanical ways, what by Prelacy, Quakerism, Arminianism, Latitudina-
rians, and Indulged ministers, and ministers and professors that love
so their quiet that they will not declare against and decline that
usurping traitor on the throne, Charles Stuart, and all the cursed crew
of pretended magistrates in Scotland, having forfeited their right of
government, as appears by their wicked and unparallelled apostac}-
from that Solemn League and Covenant ; upon that foul pretext, that
we are not in a probable capacity to extirpate them, or put them out
of office. When, in our place and station, we give our witness against
these usurpations, we so far contend for God, and witness for His
trodden down and despised interest, and testify our unwillingness
that our Lord should totally give up with this poor land.

" Oh ! this hath been many times a sad heart to me; that ye have
looked more to the credit of men than the glory of our great Lord God.
I fear this testimony be unacceptable and hazardous to you to main-
tain because of that they call treason in it ; but, ah ! there is so much

88 yl Cloud of Witnesses.

done to advance a mortal creature, a stated enemy to Christ, a furious,
hasty, cruel murderer of God's saints, that there is fear of disowning
God, and a palpable denying of Him before men, when you own
these tyrannous oppressors. Your estates you cannot part with ; your
credit and pleasures, and your quiet in the world, you will not part
with. You will rather imagine arguments to cheat yourselves in
defending your practices, that are clear breaches of covenant, if your
too great carnal love to the world did not blind you, and your
unwillingness to quit your life for Christ ; which soon will come to an
end, however, with less comfort than you would certainly have, when
you adventure all for our blessed Lord.

" As for you, Mr Alexander; I may say I have found you willing, on
good information, to be for tender cleaving to your dear Master; and
bad information making it a question if it was duty to dethrone the
pretended king, which, Mr T. H. and Mr R. M. opposing, biassed
you from that principal duty, by which we are singularly known to be
true Covenanters. And leave these that are blind, and follow your
dear Master, in the duties He calls His people to ; and He will own
them (and I am persuaded He has owned them) who have owned
Him in this duty. You did quarrel at field-meetings, enemies order-
ing against them, and consenting that house-meetings be enjoyed ;
but here is your testimony ; when you keep the fields, you declare that
our Lord's Church has liberty to keep her meetings and ordinances
where she pleases, and ought not to be at the arbitrament of men.

"To Mr Mitchell I say; I have had a great esteem of you for
a true lover of piety, and I doubt not, the Lord has sealed your
ministry sometimes, and some witnesses of it I have kno^^^l. But,
O ! sir, what a fearful snare are you in, by complying with curates in
hearing them, and taking both sacraments off their hands ! Oh ! if
ye quit not all carnal love to the world, to credit, and [to] friends that
will oppose your coming oft", the hazard is great ; the Lord may rank
you with them that have opposed the rising of His kingdom. How-
ever, I am sure. He will make you mourn for it, and I doubt [not], if
ye shortly come not off from that accursed crew, that the Lord will
send you a sorer trial than sufferers for Him meet with.

" To Mr Watson I write this as my last testimony. Oh ! how un-
faithful is liis ministry ; he dare not, for fear of losing his ministry,
declare against the heinous breach of Covenant by all the pretended
magistrates in the land. I grant, your clearness as to other things
was much one with my own. O ! Sir, quit men as they quit Christ's

y antes Skene. 89

way and interest ) else you will never be clear in truths ; as the Lord
lets out light and increaseth it. And this is most dreadful, to be so
ensnared to walk in darkness, and so be in opposition to our blessed
Lord ! Oh ! let love to the Lord Jesus Christ assuredly overcome
you ; and then admiring of men, and cleaving to them who are out of
Christ's way, will be no small matter, but a heinous sin. Oh ! will
you adventure your salvation on it, to cleave to them who are re-
proaching our Lord, His people, and interest, by mixing in with the
cursed curates ? That person ye cleave to draws on Him the guilt of
all the saints' blood that is shed in maintaining His interest and
covenant, whose judgment ye cannot decline, He being judge of all
the world.

" Ye may say much, every one of you that know me. I was many
times negligent of a tender walking, by seeking of settlement ; and
if that had been my lot, ye had not heard of this testimony. You
know, every one of you, this testimony I gave you formerly ; even
when with you. I many times wished from my heart the Lord avouM
not order a settlement to me among you. My heart was broken with
your lukewarmness and indifferency. And this I testified to several
of you, and I rather choosed, I said often, to be a sheep-keeper in
the South, where I might be encouraged in godliness, than to live in
pomp and ease at home with an ill conscience. And when I came
away last, I was sorry at my purpose of leaving Scotland, when I
heard all were agreeing to apostacy, in my judgment then, from our
blessed covenanted God ; and I was determined for Ireland then,
being ill informed of every one of the kingdoms, there not being a
people tenderly owning the Covenant in Ireland, but all some way
owning the usurper Charles Stuart.

'• But in poor Scotland, here in the South, I found a poor handful,
and but one faithful minister, whom the Lord called out, viz., Mr
Donald Cargill, to be His messenger to His people, and to give
witness against the apostacy of ministers and professors \ even those
who were great lights in the land are now in obscurity, and avow-
edly reproaching our Lord's interest and people ; whom yet the Lord
will clothe with shame, and make their peace they boast of, and quiet
sleep, to their great confounding.

" As for the call I have to suffer, I found it my only peace to
quit thoughts of Ireland, that I might not be involved in their guilt
of denying to have our Lord Jesus Christ to be King over them.
Oh ! that poor party I find only for maintaining His prerogative royal.

90 A Cloud of Witnesses.

to which I am joined, Mr Donald Cargill being the only faithful
ambassador our Lord has in Scotland ! I, following the ordinances
on Friday last \ being as well armed for defending the Gospel, and
myself, as I could ; beyond expectation, a party of Linlithgow's
soldiers is sent out to my lodging, and not dreading danger in the
day-time, I thought our persecutors had never heard of my name. I
was apprehended, and now at last brought hither to close prison ;
the Lord having honoured me to give an ample testimony before the
Council and Lords of Justiciary, for my wronged Lord Jesus.

" And supposi: I must seal it with my blood. I leave this testi-
mony to you, my friends and acquaintances in Aberdeenshire, and
subscribe it, November 17, 1680,

"JAMES SKENE."

" From my delectable prison . m which my Lord has allowed me
His peace and presence, and comforted me with that I shall reign
with Him eternally ; for I am His, and bought with His precious
blood."

LETTER from Mr James Skene to his Friend and
Fellow-prisoner N

" My much HONouREn Friend in Christ, — I
give it under my hand, I have no cause to rue my
sweet bargain. His cross is easy and light yet ; and
that which is most terrifying, I hope He will make
comfortable. O lovely Lord ! what could make Him
to choose me to suffer for Him ? What is all the world to me, if
His honour be at the stake? If His honour be advanced by my
death, O happy me !

" I have oftentimes wished a suffering lot ; I heard and saw so
much of God's goodness, that I thought the cross and comforts in
Christ could not be separated. And I have no reason to com
plain ; the Lord is so oft the joy of my heart, that I am forced to
wonder at it.

" Leaving further troubling you, hoping you will be as good as
your word , be much in prayer for these two or three days. It is
likely on Thursday next I will need no help of prayers, being come

James Skene. 9 1

to the immediate vision of my Lord, to see Him as He is ; I will be
stupefied, as it were, and amazed at it. If His merits were not of
infinite value, I might question, What would I do ? But He has pro-
mised that 1 shall reign with Him.

"JAMES SKENE."

NOTHER LETTER from Mr James Skene to his
Friend and Fellow-prisoner N.

" My Dear Friend in Christ, — I received yours,
encouraging me to hold on in my blessed Lord's way,
which He hath pathed to me. I am not unmindful of
you, as I can, and I desire you to pray, that none may
offend at the Lord's interest for me, there being willing-
ness on my part to suffer \ though justly they cannot condemn me ;
for they offer me a delivery, if I would submit to the Duke's and
Council's mercy ; but it is evidently often seen, that the tender mer-
cies of the wicked are cruelty. I find no liberty to deny my Lord
for fear of death. I hope He will make up my loss in Himself All
I can desire of you is, to pray much for me, that the Lord will own
me, for His own cause, before the adversaries, and in my dissolution.
I wish the Lord to comfort His people, and tenderly own His
despised interest.

"Mr Carstairs \see note, page 12] said, 'He was ashamed of
that principle we maintained, and that we were not sound Presby-
terians, and wished the Lord to preserve him from the like. I am
no whit troubled at this, I bless my Lord. They would have me
conferring with him. I said, I would not notice him if he came
near me.

" Tell ray friend I v/ould have written, but had no time. I
wrote yesternight to him. I need both your helps by supplications
and strong cries to the Lord, to carry me cleanly through the valley
and shadow of death,

" I must leave here, wishing the Lord to bear you up under all
trials. I thought ye should have been in eternity before me ; but
now I think I shall leave you on the valleys when I shall arrive at
the blessed harbour. I am, dear friend, your well-wisher and Christ's
prisoner, "JAMES SKENE."

92 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" P.S. — A double of my Confessions you may have from a friend,
whom I shall desire to send it to you. I got my summons for eternity
with sound of trumpet yesternight ; and my indictment with five
shouts of the trumpet, and pursuivants in their coats, at seven of the
clock, was a grave sight ; but my Lord helped me not to be afraid
at it, since all was from Him."

> ^»^ <

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of Mr
James Skene, Brother to the Laird of Skene ; which he
intended to have delivered on the scaffold, December
I St, 1680.

" Dear People, — I am come here this day to
lay down my life for owning Jesus Christ's despised
interest, and for asserting that He is a King, and for
averring that He is head of His own Church, and has not delegated
or deputed any, either Pope, King, or Council, to be his vicegerents
on earth.

" Since my blessed Lord Jesus Christ has in His love engaged
me by a particular covenant, in His own terms, to renounce and
resign myself to Him, in soul and body ; assuring me by His word,
and testifying His acceptance of my resignation by His holy and
blessed Spirit ; promising to redeem me from all sins ; giving me
assurance of a saving interest in Himself; and now, having called
me in His providence, contriving this my suffering (by permitting His
ungodly enemies to apprehend and take me prisoner, having wickedly
plotted my taking, in my going on the way to attend wiiat the Lord
had to work on my soul by His preached Gospel), to give a tesdmony
for His covenant, interest, and people that are reproached and borne
down by a perjured God-contemning generation, and to seal my
sufferings and testimony with my blood ; I most willingly lay down
my life for His interest.

" I leave my testimony to the National Covenant, and the Solemn
League and Covenant, which are founded on the Scriptures, the
Word of God, which are written by the prophets and ajjostles in the
Old and New Testaments, which has Jesus Christ, the blessed object

James Skene. 93

of our faith, for the chief corner stone of the building. I also leave
my testimony to Mr Donald Cargill's papers, taken at the Queens-
ferry, called a New Covenant, according as they agree to tlie true
original copy.

" I adhere to Presbyterian Government, and the whole work of
Reformation of the Church of Scotland ; the Confession of Faith, and
Larger and Shorter Catechisms, consulted well, and written by the
Assembly of Divines ; except that article about Magistracy, when
ill expounded, in the 23d chapter; because our magistracy is but pure
tyranny, exercised by the lustful rage of men, yea, rather devils in
shape of men, whom God has permitted, in His holy and spotless
wisdom, for a trial to His people, and a snare to some others, to
oppress, tyrannise, and blasphemously tread under foot His truth,
interest, and people ; }'ea, that article is expounded in the National
Covenant, where we have vowed to the Almighty God, not to
maintain the king's interest, when he disowns the Covenant, and
well-settled Church-government by Presbyteries, Synods, and General
Assemblies of the Church of Scotland.*

" I adhere to the Testimony for the interest of Christ, at Ruther-
glen ; at which time the wicked Acts of Parliament and the blas-
phemous Declarations, by which they have sworn to be enemies to the
interest of Christ, were solemnly burnt.

" I adhere to the Sanquhar Declaration ; whereby we, that were
true Presbyterians, did depose that tyrant Charles Stuart, who is
the head of malignants and malignancy, from his exercise of govern-
ment as to us ; and we do no otherwise than the people of Libnah,
2 Chron. xxi. 10 : 'At the same time also did the people of Libnah
revolt from under the King of Judah, because he had forsaken the
Lord God of his fathers.' And this practice is not so gross that I
own, in declaring against that monstrous tyrant on the throne of Britain,
as many conjecture; if seriously folk would consider the injustice prac-
tised in civil matters, by himself, and all his adherent inferior magi-
strates, (yea, inferior tyrants ; for he is the head and supreme tyrant,)
that no poor man, that has a just cause, if he be not as profligate and

* Let none mistake this sentence as if this worthy gentleman thereby disowneu
that unshaken principle of the Protestant religion ; viz., that infidelity or difference
in religion does not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority ; for it is plam,
he rejects only the false sense that was then put upon it, to make it an argument
for defence of tyranny and arbitrary power. \_Note by the compilers of the " Cloud,'"
in the first edition.^

94 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

wicked as themselves, can have justice ; and his usurpation in ecclesi-
astic matters ; which is too great a task for any on earth, since they
must take upon them to dethrone our blessed Lord Jesus Christ,
who is given in all things to be head to His Church (Eph. i. 22 ;
Ps. ii. 8). You would canvass the justice of disowning his authority,
which to do you are engaged by oath to God, he overturning the whole
work of Reformation ; which was the great ground of his enthronement
in Scotland, to maintain the Covenant, and work of Reformation. His
wicked burning of the Covenant, and ' Causes of God's Wrath,' is
cause enough to me to disown his authority, which is so main-
tained by perjury. ' Shall he break the Covenant, and be deli-
vered?' (Ezek. xvii. 15-19.)

" Consider likewise his oppression, in ordering military forces to
oppress God's people, to obstruct, impede, and hinder the worship
of God, the ordinances in houses or fields, and compel them to join
with a cursed crew of prelates, curates, and some indulged minis-
ters. Yea, his tyranny is so great, that he ordered an host [/>., the
Highland host] of armed men m the year 1678, to invade a peaceable
country in the West : who robbed, stole from, and oppressed poor
people, for no other reason, but because they would not pollute their
consciences, and be subject to Prelacy ; which erastian government
he has contended for these several years, and kept up in this land.
If there were no other cause of his rejection than these proceedings,
they might suffice to justify any, who were engaged by God, having
time and place, to cut him off. For, by the law of God, murder,
adultery and oppression are punishable by death ; and kings are not
exempted, far less tyrants that are lawfully excommunicate.

" But to those horrid impieties is added the shedding of the blood
of poor innocents; which aggregeth \i.e., aggravateth] his guilt, so
that, though the Lord should make him penitent, he deserves death
by the law, according to which blood cannot be expiated but by the
blood of him who shed it. For confirmation of what I have said,
see Ezekiel xxi. 25-27 ; read also Ezekiel xHii. 9 : • Let them put
away the carcases of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in the
midst of them for ever.' Consider how our fathers contended for
truth, and must we lose what they gained ? Ah ! this atheistical
generation of perjured, adulterous, and bloody powers are ripe for
God's vengeance !

" I give my testimony against the cursed persecuting soldiers ; the
blood of God's saints is on their heads, and mine is laid on them,

James Skene. 95

especially Sergeant Warrock. who apprehended me. My blood is
on the Justiciary, who subscribed* to my sentence ; and on the
fifteen assizers, James Glen, stationer, being clerk ; and on the
Chancellor , and on Mr George Mackenzie, who pleaded for my
condemnation , and Thomas Dalziel, who ordered my taking ; and
upon Andrew Cunningham, who condemned me : and upon all the
rest who are accessory in the least thereto ; yea, the Privy Council
are to be accountable for my blood ; and my blood is on the head
of Mr J[ohn] C[arstairs], who condemned my testimony against these
bloody tyrants, asserting me to be a Jesuit. ['In charity, I shall
believe that Mr Skene was informed that the Rev. Mr Carstairs
had said so ; but the same charity, and Mr Carstairs' known tender-
ness and temper, forbid me to believe that he said so.' — WodroiiK\

" I leave my testimony against the receiving that accursed traitor,
James Duke of York, and all Papists, Quakers, prelates, curates, lati-
tudinarians, indulged ministers, and their favourers, the Hamilton
Declaration, and other papers and actings, directly or indirectly
against the truth. I leave my testimony against the lukewarm pro-
fessors, who write and speak grievous things to reproach the truly
godly, and who keep silence when God calls them to give a free and
full testimony for His despised Covenant and whole work of Reforma-
tion, against a traitorous, backsliding, and adulterous generation ; and
as in this place, or any other of my papers, I could not have designed
God's enemies any otherwise, than by their pretended offices. Thus
far, dear people. I crave your liberty, and let none think that thereby
I own them in the least point.

" Likewise, whereas my sufferings were delayed ; the Lord, in
whose presence I must appear erelong, knows what a soul-grief it is
to me to remember it. When the day I was sentenced to die for my
dear Lord's interest came, I expected vainly that my relations, that
were great in court, who had seen me, should have procured a
reprieval for me ; but being disappointed, a fear of death surprised me,
hearing that all were presently making ready for my execution ; and

* These and the like sentences, which may possibly be met with in some other
testimonies, ought not to be mistaken as the effects of a revengeful ungospel
Spirit, but rather as a simple declaration of their being guilty of blood in con-
demning them ; to serve as a warning to the persecutors, not to proceed further in
these wicked courses, and to waken them to repentance (if possible) for what they
had already done ; and is much parallel in its nature with that of Jeremiah, in
his apology before the princes, chap. xxvi. 15. [A^ote by the original compilers of
the "Cloud."]

96 A Cloud of Witnesses.

then my carnal relations, almost weeping on me, engaged me by their
insinuations to supplicate that bloody crew for it myself. A carnal
well-wisher drew it up in these terms : ' James Skene, prisoner,
earnestly desires your lordships to grant him a reprieval for some
days, till he canvass these things he was sentenced for with learned
and godly men ; and your lordships answer.'

" After I subscribed it, a great confusion and horror of spirit fell
on me. I went to prayer, wishing in my heart it were not granted ;
but such was my trouble, I could not say anything but nonsense.
My heart was afflicted sore with this straitening, and the more when
the reprieval was granted. I thought, I, having shifted the cross, my
Lord might deny me that credit again, and put a worse on me in re-
quital of my slighting Him. I judge, the Lord left me thus to slip, to
humble me, and that He hid His face to make me exemplarily
punished for untender carrying under His cross, which He had chosen
for me ; to warn others under the cross, that they would be circum-
spect and zealous for keeping from being polluted with any compli-
ance with the defections of the times, that they may have a cleanly
suffering. From this backsliding I recovered not for two days after ;
but found it sad for my soul ; the Lord hid His face from me. But
now my God has had compassion on me ; and, this time of the eight
days' reprieval. He has preserved me from such a backsliding, when
the devil by his emissaries has had much artifice to turn me aside
from the way of the Lord. Yet I will say this far ; all I have done
was not in order to own that wicked Council as lawful rulers ; but my
life being in their tyrannous hands, I thought then I might desire as
much favour of them as of a robber that had the dagger at my breast ;
and I truly look on all their actings in courts, either higher or lower
judicatories, in matters civil or ecclesiastic, that they act as murderers,
oppressors, and tyrants only.

" And now these bloody oppressors say, because I will not sinfully
renounce my Lord and His interest, and look on them as magistrates,
and say I spake rashly what I did (on which terms, craving them
pardon, I would soon get remission and be at liberty,) that they look
on me as guilty of my own blood. But I hope my God will not
account me guilty, who knows I dare not so sinfully disown Him, for
all the hazard of my poor life. There being a dilemma in my case,
either I must sin or suffer ; I have found it my only peace with my
Lord, to choose suffering, and hate the way of sinning. And this I
thought good to insert in my dying testimony, that others may

James Skene. 97

beware of an untender walk with God, ' who is a consuming fire to
all impenitent sinners.' Now, my Lord has sealed my remission for
this extravagance, and has entered into a new covenant with me, and I
have resigned myself wholly to Him, to be at His disposal ; and it is
my rejoicing, that He is calling me out to honour me so much as to
suffer for His sake. A poor countryman with us, would think it his
credit to be called to signify his loyalty to a nobleman, who was his
master, whose courage obliges him to fight for his safety to the loss
of his life. But oh ! what a disparity is in my case ! I am but a
base, wretched, sinful worm, and I am called to signify my love and
loyalty to the King of Glory, before these treacherous and perfidious
powers that sit at ease, and disown, yea, declare against my Lord,
that He is not our covenanted King and Lord. And the two de-
spised Covenants are not despicable, but our glory. I will first
declare they are traitors, and ought to be disowned as magistrates or
lawful rulers ; and so many of them as have imbrued their hands in
the blood of the saints, either by commissions, or votes in councils,
or other courts ; or have lived, oppressing God's people, in adultery,
uncleanness, wickedness, and witchcraft ; they are guilty of death.
And when there are no other magistrates who will duly punish these
impieties, it is my duty, out of zeal to the Lord (I say it again), if the
Lord would employ me, to cut them off- as that zeal of Phineas,
though mocked at by them in their proclamation, is a good example.

" Thus I end, wishing that what I have here penned for a testi-
mony to the Lord's despised interest, may have weight with any who
consider, that, what I have written, I must erelong reckon for ; and
so I have laboured to be single-hearted before the Lord in it.

" Now, I have touched everything I can remember concerning
my judgment of things controverted, as also some reasons of my prin-
ciples, asserted in face of a great council, and twice before the Justi-
ciaries ; which I gladly sign with my subscription, glorying in the Lord
who owned me, so that I was not ashamed, but judged it my glory
to give my full and free testimony for my blessed Lord's despised
interest, against that wicked and treacherous pack of my God's
declared enemies.

" Now, farewell, all dear friends ! I hope the Lord will have a
glorious Church in Scotland, and that He will raise His glory out
of the ashes of a burnt Covenant. Now, farewell sun, moon, and
stars ! Farewell, holy Scriptures ! Oh ! I am going to a life where I
shall no more be troubled with a body of sin or death. Oh ! I am

A Cloud 0/ Witnesses.

going to a mansion of glory that ray Lord has prepared for me, I shall
have a crown of life ; because I have been, by my blessed Lord's
assistance — though I slipped aside — made faithful to the death.

" Now, welcome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou hast redeemed
me by thy price, and by thy power. Oh ! Lord Crod of Hosts, into
thy hands 1 commit my Spirit !

" Sic subscribiiur,

"JA. SKENE.

"In the close prison of Edinburgh, November 30, 1680; being
the day before my execution, according to the unjust sentence of a
perfidious court."

Archibald Stewart.

RCHIBALD STEWART belonged to Borrowstounness. He
had been in Holland, where, as well as at home, he had
heard the Gospel, and it had been blessed to his conversion.
He was several times before the Privy Council. On November 15th,
the commissioners reported that they had examined him by torture.
" A confession of his being at Airsmoss was extorted, and he likewise
discovered a great many of Mr Cargill's haunts and places of hiding."

The Government fancied that a conspiracy had been formed to
take away the lives of the king, the Duke of York, and their counsel-
lors. To obtain some grounds for their fancy, John Sproul, apothe-
cary, Glasgow ; Robert Hamilton, son of the chamberlain of Kenneil ;
and Archibald Stewart, were each put to the torture. We have no
record of Stewart's torture further than the fact. Sproul, however,
lived to tell of his sufferings at the hands of his enemies. What is
told of him is no doubt similar to what could have been told of
Archibald Stewart :

" Lord Hatton was preses of the committee to examine the said

Arckibald Stewart. 99

persons by torture, and the Duke of York and many others were
present. The preses told Mr Sproul, that if he would not make a
more ample confession than he had done, and sign it, he behoved to
underlie the torture. Mr Sproul said that he had been very ingenuous
before the Council, and would go no further ; that they could not
subject him to torture according to law ; but, if they would go on, he
protested that his torture was without, yea, against all law ; that what
was extorted from him under the torture against himself, or any others,
he would resile from it, and it ought not to militate against him, or
any others ; and he declared his hopes, that God would not leave
him so far as to accuse himself, or others, under the extremity of pain.

" Then the hangman put his foot in the instrument called the
Boot, and at every query put to him, gave five strokes or thereby
upon the wedges. The queries were — Whether he knew anything
of a plot to blow up the Abbey \i.e., of Holyrood] and the Duke of
York ? who was in the plot, and where Mr Cargill was ? and if he
would subscribe his confession before the Council ? To these he
declared his absolute and utter ignorance, and adhered to his refusing
to subscribe.

" When nothing could be expiscated by this, they ordered the old
Boot to be brought, alleging this new one used by the hangman was
not so good as the old ; and accordingly it was brought, and he
underwent the torture a second time, and adhered to what he had
before said. General Dalziel complained at the second torture, that
the hangman did not strike strongly enough upon the wedges. The
hangman said he struck with all his strength, and offered the general
the mall to do it himself

" Mr Sproul was very firm, and wonderfully supported, to his own
feeling, in body and spirit during the torture. When it was over, he
was carried to prison on a soldier's back, where he was refused the
benefit of a surgeon. But the Lord blessed so the means he used
himself, that in a little time he recovered pretty well."

No specimen of the Boot is known to exist in this country. It is
now only known from the pictures of the period. Burnet's descrip-
tion of it is : " They put a kind of iron boot close on the leg, and
drive wedges between this and the leg. The common torture was
only to drive these in the calf of the leg ; but I have been told they
were sometimes driven upon the shin bone." The Boot seems origi-
nally to have been brought from France, where it was known under
the name of Le Brodequin,

I oo A Cloud of Witnesses.

In 1684, another instrument of torture was introduced ; according
to Fountainhall, by Generals Dalziel and Drummond, who saw it
used in Muscovy. So much were the Council impressed with its
value, that they put the following Act upon record ; — "July 23, 1684.
—Whereas the ' boots ' were the ordinary way to expiscate matters
relating to the Government, and that there is now a new invention
and engine, called the ' thumbkins,' which will be very effectual to
the purpose and intent foresaid, the Lords of His Majesty's Privy
Council do therefore ordain, that when any person shall, by their
order, be put to the torture, that the said boots and thumbkins both
be applied to them, as it shall be found fit and convenient."

A smaller instrument of torture for the fingers had already existed,
made of two pieces of iron, that were screwed up with finger and
thumb, but it was of no great power. William Carstairs, the first
upon whom the new thumbkins were used, says they were of a size
so large, that the whole hand could be used in turning the screw.
He bore their torture for an hour and a-half, with great firmness.
After the revolution, when Principal Carstairs, he got hold of the in-
strument that had caused him such suffering, and showed it to King
William. Tlie king put his thumb into it, and desired Carstairs to
give the screw a turn. This he did with such vigour that the king
• cried out, " Hold, hold ! Principal ; another turn, and I would confess
anything ! "

There are several thumbkins in the Museum of the Society of
Antiquaries in Edinburgh. — Ed.]

> *»^ <,

HE TESTIMONY of Archibald Stewart, who lived
at Borrowstounness, and suffered at the Cross of Edin-
burgh, December i, 1680.

"Men and Brethren, — It is like, the most part of
you are come here to gaze and wonder upon me,
rather than to be edified ; but I hope there are some
here that are witnessing and sympathising with me.
But while ye are strangers to God, and ignorant of His word, and
of what our Lord has suffered for us, and that He has told us. ' That

Archibald Stewart. loi

through many tribulations and afflictions we must enter into the
kingdom of God,' it is no wonder ye count us fools ; for while I was
in black nature myself, I was as mad as any of you all. But, bless-
ings to His glorious and holy name, that, whereas once I was blind,
now I see ; and therefore I abhor myself in dust and ashes, and 1
desire the more to magnify His free grace, for all that He hath done
to me. It is nothing in myself ; therefore, why should I not be con-
tent to follow the footsteps of my blessed Master, that has gone before
me, from time to eternity. Though, in this manner, it is unpleasant to
natural sense.

•' And He is calling for my mite of a testimony for His despised
trutli. For it was, by the hearing of the Gospel by His suffering
servants, both here and in Holland, that I was brought to the love
of God, and His only son Jesus Christ ; since which time He has
engaged my heart to seek Him in the same way. I found Him where
He was most eminently holden forth and witnessed for, and my sins,
and the sins of the land holden forth to me ; and it is for this, that
I am accused and condemned of men — for my following the Gospel
preached in the fields; because I was following that poor handful
that fell at Airsmoss, where Mr Richard Cameron had been preach-
ing, and was to preach ; and because, when the bloody soldiers came
upon us, we offered to defend ourselves — whatever other causes they
have to lay to my charge.

"And that ye be not mistaken with me, and the Lord's people
and His way ; though they allege that we are of bloody principles
(as the indulged ministers give it out, that we are of Jesuitical and
bloody principles) ; yet the Lord knows, and I declare, that I have
desired to know His will, and walk in it ; and I have been studying
that which all the land are obHged to ; which is to hear and keep up
the Gospel, and defend my own life, and the lives of my brethren,
who have been so long hunted, and to defend the Gospel, which has
been so long borne down.

" So then, however I and that suffering remnant be mistaken ; in
that they give out in their Declaration [issued Nov, 22, 1680 ; the
charge is repeated in a letter of the Council to the king — Ed.], that
I said I would kill the king, or any of the Council ; it is an untruth
and forged calummy to reproach the way of God ; more like them-
selves and their own principles, who have killed so many of the
people of God, both in the fields and upon scaffolds, and us amongst
the rest, to please that bloody tyrant Charles Stuart's brother, who

I02 A Cloud of Witnesses.

has been thirsting for the blood of these three nations ; and to make
men believe that we have been contriving a plot to murder them ;
though indeed, if they were brought to any trial of a just law, accord-
ing to the \Vord of God, or the laws of the land, most of them have
done, or consented to more, than might take their lives, both against
the people of the Lord, and His borne-down truths, and against the
commonwealth, and laws of the land.

" But I never said that I would do it ; and when I was before
them, especially in the Justiciary-court, upon trial of my life, they
would hardly give me leave to speak for, or explain myself; more
like men designed to catch advantage, and to cheat me out of my
life, than just judges. I know they must answer to their great Judge
for what they do.

" And this being the testimony of a dying man, they that fear the
Lord mil believe my declaration before their proclamation 3 which
may be easily seen to be a plot in them, and not in us, to blind the
eyes of a secure generation and make strangers approve of their per-
secution, and believe that they do it justly, and laugh at our calamity,
until they can win [?>., get] to bring about that bloody Popish design
against all that will not follow them in the three nations. Although
they now spare some men, and flatter them to take favours from them,
whereby they engage them to lie by, till they destroy His remnant, that
dare not but witness against them, and the common sins of the land ;
for which I desire to mourn, and pray the Lord's people to mourn over
them, and witness against them, as they desire to be marked with the
mourners' mark ; when a holy God shall come to take vengeance on
all ranks that have so forsaken and betrayed His Christ, and set up a
man in His place, which will be found to be the great idol of jealousy,
besides the many other idols that have drawn away the true and kind
love and fear, that the generation owes to God. And because we
desire to love and fear God, and to follow His sweet Christ, we are
reproached and staged [?>., accused without formal trial] with tongues
of many, as these that are out of the way, and are of Jesuitical
principles.

" I declare I have in some measure been desiring and intending
to know, love, and follow the truth, both in obedience to His com-
mands, and for the hope of glory ; though, I confess, through much
weakness and infirmity. I am a Presbyterian in my judgment,
though I be looked upon as otherwise, because of my declaring my
thoughts freely before men ; and I own, and adhere to that work of

A rcliiba Id Stewart. i o 3

Reformation, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the National and
Solemn League and Covenant, the Acknowledgment of Sins and
Engagement to Duties, and the Causes of God's Wrath. Also, I
own all the testimonies of our worthy sufferers that have gone before
us ; as also, I own the Sanquhar Declaration, and that Excommuni-
cation at the Torwood. At the writing hereof, I prayed that the
Lord would open their eyes, and let them see their sins, and grant
them repentance ; all of them that are of the election of free grace \
and they that are not, I pray that the Lord would ratify in heaven
what was done on earth by His faithful servant, as it is according to
His will ; which has been all our desires.

" Now, I leave my testimony against the cursed prelates, and all
their hirelings, who have been the instigators and drivers on of the
Council and bloody soldiers to all the tyranny, oppression, and
blood, which they have shed.

" And I leave my testimony against the woful Indulgences, and
all that have been either embracers of them, or any that have been
strengtheners of their hands, or their favourers ; they have broken
and divided the people of the Lord, more than all the former persecu-
tion could ever do.

" I leave my testimony against all lukewarm and unfaithful minis-
ters and professors, that have turned their back upon Christ and
His cause, and have fallen away from their first love, and the doing
of their first works ; for they are pulling down what they first
builded.

" I leave my testimony against the oppression, tyranny, and
robbery, done against the people of God, either by one or other ;
and especially by these wretches [Earl of] Glencairn and [John
Skene of] Halyards, whose names shall be recorded for generations
to come, as robbers of the widow and fatherless ; who have lain in
wait against the dwellings of the righteous, and have spoiled his
resting place, and have turned many a widow and orphan out of
their dwellings.

" I leave my testimony against those tyrants that have forefaulted
[i.e., forfeited] all the rights that they now lay claim to, and usurp
over the people of the Lord, and the whole land ; and all their unjust
laws ; but especially that accursed Supremacy ; by which they set up
a miserable, adulterous, wretched man in Christ's room, who thinks to
wrong our Lord and carry His crown ; but it will be too heavy for
him ; though all the wicked lords, prelates, malignants, and indulged

1 04 A Cloud of Witnesses.

be joining hand in hand to hold it on, down it sliall come, and who-
soever wears that crown. And it is because of liis wearing my lovely
Lord and King's crown, and wronging Him, that I am contending;
and as he and they have proclaimed me a rebel and traitor to man,
so I disown him and them, and declare him and them traitors and
rebels to God, and His Christ; my desirable and holy Lord and
King.

" But let me entreat you, that desire mercy, to forsake your
wicked ways, and fall in love with Christ, and seek peace with God
through Him, who is the only peacemaker ; for there are sad judg-
ments coming on the land ; and all your peace with these wicked
men will not keep you from the dreadful wrath of God coming on
the land, because of slighting of the Gospel when it was to be had
in God's own way, and the perjury, covenant-breaking, idolatry,
profaneness, treacherous backsliding, apostacy and other abomina-
tions, that all ranks of the land are guilty of; and because of their
receiving and entertaining of this bloody Popish Duke ; who must be
welcomed with a draught of our blood now, as he was the last time
with the blood of our brethren.

" I bless the Lord, I have great satisfaction in my owning this
despised way of God, for which I lay down my life ; and also, that
the Lord has drawn my heart after Him, and made me heartily
willing to be at His disposing ; I have sweet peace in what I have
done, and would entreat all to more tenderness, and to watch o\er
all their ways ; for there are many looking on us, and waiting for
our halting in the way of God. Oh ! that the Lord would help you
to wait on Him, until the day break, and the .shadows and all these
clouds flee away ! For this is a heavy day upon the Church of God.
Oh ! to be labouring to lie in the dust, and to hide ourselves, and
shut our mouths, and be silent ; for the Lord hath rubbed shame on
all faces, because of many backslidings and upsitting [/>., indifterence]
in duty (and that both public and private), which I think the Lord is
contending for this day.

" Oh ! dear friends, all ye tliat desire to keep the way of God,
and be carried faithfully through amidst all these tribulations and
astonishing dispensations, forsake not your Christian fellowships,
wherein so much of the power and presence of God hath been found
among those that met together out of love and zeal for God, to pour
out tlieir hearts before Him, and converse one with another. I think
the forsaking and upsitting of [/>., indifference for] Christian meet-

Archibald Sicivart. 105

ings, is as sad a token of God's leaving the land, as any that I see ;
and therefore, I not only exhort you to this duty ; but as a dying
man, I charge you, as you will answer at the great day, to set about
that duty with fear, love, and zeal to God, having His glory before
your eyes. And let love to Christ be the principle and motive to
draw you to this, and all other duties. Let none be stumbled at the
way of Christ, for what we are suffering — if I durst call it suffering ; for
all the steps of the way are easy to me, through faith in a slain Medi-
ator. For it is those that keep the word of His patience, that He
will keep in the hour of temptation. Oh ! labour to keep up these
lovely field-meetings, wherewith my soul has been refreshed. And
let'it be your work to keep patience ; whatever sufferings ye meet with
from enemies, or reproaches from pretended friends, who I fear, will
be found secret and heart-enemies to God. This I leave to you as
my last advice.

" And now I bless God for all that He hath done for my soul,
and for this way that He hath taken with me, in carrying me to the
land of praise, where I shall sing that sweet song throughout the
ages of eternity, which shall never have an end. Oh ! long to be
with Him ; for if ye knew what I have got of His love and presence,
ye would whiles \i.e., sometimes] be giving a look to time, and
bidding it be gone. Now, even let it be gone, that I may enjoy my
Best Beloved !

" Now I take my farewell of all friends and relations, and all
earthly comforts and all created glory ; and welcome, sweet Lord
Jesus ; into thy hands I commit my spirit.
" Sic Subscribitur,

"ARCHIBALD STEWART."

]PON the scaffold he sung the second Psalm, and read the
third of Malachi. But they would not suffer him to pray
publicly ; for when he began to speak, saying : •' Oh ! Lord,
what wilt thou do with this generation ? What wilt thou do with
bloody Charles Stuart?" incontinent [i.e., immediately] the drums
were beaten and his mouth stopped, that he got no more said.

John Potter.

OHN POTTER was at Aiismoss, but not in arms. All that
they had to lay to his charge was, that he had been a hearer
of Donald Cargill, and that he owned the Sanquhar Decla-
ration. It was he that related to Patrick Walker the last words of
Richard Cameron: "When they saw the enemy so near, and no
escaping, they gathered close about him, when he prayed a short
word, and had these expressions three times : ' Lord, spare the green
and take the ripe.' When ended, he said to his brother : ' Michael,
come let us fight it out to the last ; for this is the day that I have
longed for, and the death that I have prayed for, to die fighting
against our Lord's avowed enemies ; and this is the day that we will
get the crown.' And to the rest he said : ' Be encouraged, all of
you, to fight it out valiantly ; for all of you that shall fall this day, I
see heaven's gates cast wide open to receive them.' " He suffered at
the same time with James Skene and Archibald Stewart.

The Declaration stigmatising the Covenants, testified against by
John Potter, was ordained by the fifth Act of the second session of
the first Parliament of Charles IL, 1662. All persons in public trust
were required to sign it. It was the cause of much of the suffering
of the following twenty-six years. The Covenants had been solemnly
sworn, and it really made perjury a necessary qualification in all
admitted to ofiice in Church and State. It was the first of a long
course of ensnaring declarations, bonds, or oaths. Indeed, scarcely
a year of the persecuting times passed by without some new form of
oath. The Declaration, after a short introduction, was — " I do

sincerely affirm and declare particularly that these oaths,

whereof the one was commonly called the ' National Covenant,' as
it was sworn and explained in the year 1638, and thereafter; and
the other, entitled ' A Solemn League and Covenant,' were, and are
in themselves, unlawful oaths."— Ed.]

yohn Potter

107

HE TESTIMONY of John Potter, a Farmer, who
lived in the parish of Uphall in West Lothian, and
suffered at the Cross of Edinburgh, December i, 1680.

" All you spectators and auditors, I desire your
attention to a few words, and I shall be brief And
before I begin, I must tell you, you must not expect
such a testimony from me as ye have had from some
of them that went before me, I not being a learned man, as some
of them have been. However, I desire to look to God ; who not only
can give me what to speak, but can also bless what I speak, so as
it may be for His glory, and the good of them that love Him,
and wait for His coming ; which is the desire of my soul. Now,
I being to step out of time into eternity, I hope you will not think
that I shall say anything now but what my conscience binds me
to say.

" In the first place, I must tell you for what I am come here this
day, to lay down my life ; it is for owning and adhering to my sworn
principles. I am a Presbyterian, and herein I do rejoice that I am
to suffer for His cause only ; for adhering to the Word of God ; our
Confession of Faith ; Larger and Shorter Catechisms ; our Covenants,
National and Solemn League, together with our solemn Acknowledg-
ment of Sins and Engagement to Duties ; wherein all Scotland were
once engaged, and thought it their duty and honour to be so. And
this is the reason for which I am sentenced to death by men ; but
God, to whom vengeance doth belong, \vill avenge Himself for all the
wrongs done to His glory, cause, interest, and people. I was born
under the pure light of the Gospel, and was taught to own Christ as
king in Zion only, and head of His own Church ; and this I own to
be my duty.

" But I am here charged with rebellion ; which I deny, because
I was never of that opinion, that it was rebellion to hear the Gospel ;
for the word of God binds us to it as our duty ; otherwise, why should
God have told us, * That we should go from sea to sea to seek the
word of the Lord, and should not find it?' And the practice of
our Lord and His apostles, in preaching of the Gospel to the people
that heard them, is a sufficient ground to prove it to be duty to hear

1 08 A Cloud of Witnesses.

the Gospel, whether in fields or houses, when it cannot be had else-
where ; and if it be duty to hear the Gospel as it is, then certainly
it is duty to delend the Gospel when preached in purity ; according
to the word of God, and according to the sixth article of the Solemn
League and Covenant, wherein we are bound to assist and defend
all that enter into covenant with us, and to the utmost of our power,
with our lives in our hands ; much more to defend the Gospel,
which teaches us the fundamental principles of our holy Religion.

" And to take away that vile and malicious aspersion, which they
cast upon us ; charging us with an intention to have murdered the
Duke of York and others with him ; I declare I had never such a
principle as to murder any man, neither did I ever hear of it till the
Council told me ; which I knew to be a vile and hell-hatched aspersion
cast upon the way and people of God ; but they judge others by
themselves, for that is their principle — to murder the people of God,
as they also do.

" Next I was charged, whether or not I adhered to Sanquhar
Declaration ? I answered, I not only adhered to it, but also will
lay down my life cheerfully and willingly, as I do this day, for adher-
ing thereto ; yea, if every hair of my head were a life, and every drop
of my blood were a man, I would willingly lay them all down for
Him and His cause.

" I come here to tell you —

" I. That I adhere to all the written will and word of God ; and
I adhere to the Confession of Faith, and our Catechisms, Larger and
Shorter, and to our Covenants, National and Solemn League, and to
the solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties,
and to all the Covenants made betwixt God and us, wherein I
stand engaged.

"2. I adhere to all the testimonies that have gone before me.

" 3. I adhere to all that has been done for maintaining and
defending the Gospel against a tyrannising and bloody enemy, when
the actors thereof had the glory of God before their eyes as the
chief motive that drove them thereto ; whether at Pentland, Drum-
clog, Glasgow, Bothwell, Airsmoss, or any other place in Scotland,
where there has been any rencounter of that kind.

" 4. I adhere to that action of Excommunication at the Tonvood ;
it being according to the word of God, and done by a faithful minister
of the Gospel, and in as legal a way as the present dispensation and
circumstance of time could permit ; and also, the persons excom-

John Potter. 109

municate being guilty of such crimes as justly do deserve that act to
be passed against them.

" 5. I adhere to the testimonies of all that have borne testimon)
against silent and unfaithful ministers ; by their withdrawing from
them, which is a declaring that they do not own them as faithful
ambassadors of Jesus Christ, because of their unfaithfulness; and J
hope none will condemn me for saying, that 1 have not had clearness
to join with them, while they remain so unconcerned with the cause
of Christ and the oppression of His peo])le.

" 6. I adhere to the way of salvation agreed upon betwixt the
Father and the Son before the creation of the world, that through
the Son we should be made perfect ; which I hope to obtain before
this body of mine be cold, and in His perfection I shall be made
perfect, and through His suffering I shall be conformed to Him
who suffered without the gate, bearing His reproach. And I am well
pleased with my lot this day. Oh ! my soul, and all that is within me,
bless His holy name, for all that He hath done for my soul, and for
His way of bringing me here this day, to lay down my life for Him.
I am not afraid of grim death ; I know that Giod has taken away the
sting of death through the sufferings of His Son.

" In the next place, being here as a dying witness for Christ and
His cause, I do therefore leave my testimony against all abominations
done in the land against a holy God, and in contempt of His image ;
particularly :

" I. I testify against all that woeful and hell-hatched Act of
Supremacy, wherein they acknowledge the king to be head of the
Church, and thereby have invested a mortal creature with Christ's
crown, sword, and sceptre.

" 2. I bear witness and testify against the breaking of the National
and Solemn League and Covenant, and making them to be burnt
by the hand of the hangman at the Market Cross of Edinburgh,
and elsewhere through Scotland, so contrary to their solemn engage-
ment.

" 3. I witness and bear my testimony against the reception of
Prelacy, so contrary to the word of God, and our Covenants ; for
then it was that the Covenanters in Scotland should have withstood
both king and Council, and all that joined with them in that head,
and should have testified against them with their swords in their
hands until they had resisted unto blood, according to the sixth
article of the Solemn League and Covenant. Oh ! that all that are

I lo A Cloud of Witnesses.

alive this day that were men when the Covenant was burnt, were tak-
ing with [/>., confessing] their sin, and were lying in the dust; every
one for his share in that sin, and every one for the land's guiltiness.

"4. I leave my testimony against all the horrid bloodshed that
has been in this land, whether of noblemen, gentlemen, ministers,
or any others, that have suffered in Edinburgh, or any other place,
whether on scaftblds, on gibbets, in open fields, or on the sea ; par-
ticularly that horrid act of murdering so many men [at Pentland.
— Ed.] after they had taken them prisoners and promised them their
lives ; which was done by Thomas Dalziel, called General ; who took
them prisoners, and after promising to set them at liberty, delivered
them to the bloody Council, who most cruelly murdered them against
and without all law and reason, never speaking of conscience ; for
they had lo.st all of that they ever had, when they burned the Cove-
nant and murdered the Marquis of Argyle, and my Lord Warriston,
and that eminent minister Mr James Guthrie ; who were murdered
against the very acts of their own laws.

" 5. I bear witness, and testify against the cutting off heads and
hands, and setting them up upon the ports [/>., gateways] of Edin-
burgh, and elsewhere t'nrough the kingdom of Scotland, as if they
had been thieves or malefactors.

" 6. I testify and bear witness against all the imprisonments,
finings, and confinings, of the people of God, for adhering to His
word and our Covenants.

" 7. I testify and bear witness against the pressing of the Decla-
ration against our Covenants upon the consciences of the Lord's
people.

"8. I testify and bear witness against the imposing and paying
of cess and militia money, both for oppressing the consciences, and
grinding the faces of the poor.

" 9. I testify and bear witness against that cruel and hell-hatched
act of sending the Highland host, and the rest of that cabal, to
oppress and plunder the people of God.

" And lastly, I bear witness against all the oppression, spoiling,
robbing, and hunting of the people of God, and that against all man-
ner of law or reason. I shall be a standing witness against them,
ay, and while \i.e., until] they repent. Oh ! that the Lord would
pour out of His spirit upon all that have so grievously turned aside,
and make them to lie in the dust, and to take with [z>., confess]
their sins ; but 1 fear, a holy God has given them up to themselves.

John Potter. 1 1 1

and sealed their hearts with obduration, and so they are become
proof against all dispensations ; but sure, such as will not bow to
God, shall be broken by the mighty rod of iron, that is in His hand
to bruise the nations.

" I have here left my testimony against the perjury, bloodshed,
and oppression of the people of God, which has been done by him
who is called the King of Britain and Ireland ; and the perjury and
bloodshed acted by noblemen and gentlemen, who have been assist-
ing and strengthening his hand in bloody and cruel courses ; and
therefore I leave my testimony against them, and my blood .upon
their heads, and especially against such as were present in the
Council, when I was examined, and these perjured lords of the
criminal court, where I was sentenced to die here in this place of
execution ; and also I leave my blood upon the head of the assizers
and all others, who said amen to my sentence, whatever they have
been, and yet are ; except they repent, my blood shall be charged
upon them. Likewise I leave my testimony against all who carried
arms to guard me to this scaffold; they shall be found guilty of
my blood, if mercy and grace prevent it not.

" Likewise I bear witness, and leave my testimony against the
reception [October 1679, or October 1680] of the Duke of York,
first and last ; that professed papist, who has been laying out himself
to carry us back to Rome, and that not only by the bloody Council
and other perjured noblemen and gentlemen, but also by the city of
Edinburgh, who went out of the port [/.^., city gate] to receive him,
as though he had been a king, with shooting of guns, sounding of
trumpets, beating of drums, and kindling of bonfires, which is con-
trary to the Word of God and our Covenant, after he had been cast
off justly by the other kingdom of England. [The bill, October
1680, for excluding him from the throne, passed through the House
of Commons without difliculty, but, by the influence of the king
was rejected by the Lords.- — Ed.] I shall be a witness against that
action in the great day ; and, particularly, I leave my blood upon
that wretch and bloody tyrant the Duke of York ; for it is to satisfy
him and to quench his implacable thirst after blood that I am
brought hither this day. The last time he came to Scotland, he
got a sacrifice of the blood of these five that suffered at Magus
Moor, who were indeed highly honoured, and nothing short of these
that went before them [Thomas Brown, Andrew Sword, John Clyde,
James Wood, John Waddell, were taken at Bothwell. They were

112 y^ Cloud of Witnesses.

condemned to be taken to Magus Moor, where Sharp was killed,
and there hanged, November 1679. Their testimonies are appended
to " Naphtali."— Ed.]. And now, he must have this, our blood, to
quench his thirst upon ; but that heart of his that is so rejoicing at
the hearing and seeing of our death ; erelong my heart shall sing Halle-
lujah to the Lamb of God, and join in my note, and pass my sen-
tence with the Great Judge against him, and all the enemies of God,
if great repentance and free grace prevent it not.

" And, with respect to that for which I am sentenced to death,
because of many mistakes, even among the godly, through wrong
information ; I here, as a dying man, declare I had before me no
design but only the glory of God, and the coming of Christ's kingdom,
and His reigning as King in Zion. And for this I am sentenced,
and for this I lay down my life this day, and I do it willingly and
cheerfully, and not by constraint ; for if I had been left of a holy
God so far as to quit one hoof of His truth, I might have redeemed
my life ; as some have done, that were as deeply engaged to stand
by the truth, even to the resisting unto blood, as I was, and seemed
to be as deeply concerned as I was. How they have come out of
prison I know not ; but God knows, and to Him they will and must
give account thereof, and to Him I leave it ; but I think there are
few that came out of prison that now can say, they have neither
touched, tasted, nor handled the abominations of these times wherein
they live. Therefore, I leave my testimony and witness against all
that have come out of prison, by taking of the Bond, if it were but to
compear before these bloody enemies of God, in as far as they were
convinced that it was sin ; as some of them were, otherwise their
tongue and pen have bed ; which I leave to God and their own con-
sciences to determine, whether or not they sinned in so doing.

" Next, I here as a dying man do declare, that if the blotting of
paper to them would save my life, I would not do it at that rate ; for
I see they are setting themselves to ensnare poor things, and I see
neither ministers nor professors to give their advice in this matter, if
it be not to make them take the Bond, as they did to these poor
things in the churchyard [of Greyfriars, to the prisoners taken at
Bothwell Bridge. — Ed.]

Also, I leave my testimony and bear witness against all the un-
faithfulness of ministers and professors.

" I. I bear witness against the unfaithfulness of these minis-
ters that were with the Public Resolutions, to bring in, or keep in, any

yo/m Potter. 1 1 3

of these men that were open and avowed malignants and enemies to
God, so contrary to our Covenants.

" 2. I bear testimony against that act at Glasgow [October
I, 1662. By it, all ministers ordained since 1649, who had not
been presented by the patron, and collated by the bishop, were
b mished from their parishes. Nearly four hundred were affected by
it. The six hundred were those who submitted to the yoke of erastian
supremacy. — Ed.] wherein six hundred ministers and upwards did
quit their charge, and turn their back upon their flock ; and since,
many of them are turned ravening wolves and greedy dogs that
cannot bark, according to that word, Ezekiel xiii. 4, 5, *0 Israel, thy
prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into
the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand
in the battle in the day of the Lord.' Had it not been their duty to
have stood by their charge until they had been driven out of their
pulpits ?

" 3. I leave my testimony against both Indulgences, first and
last, and against all that comply and go on with them in that sinful
course ; ay, and while \i.e., until] they repent, I shall be a standing
witness against them. Surely, if they be found with clean lingers
when God comes to inquire after blood, 1 am mistaken. But, oh I
what will they answer when Christ shall say, ' Come here, sir, give
me an account of your talent. What did ye with your ministry ? Laid
ye it aside at the command of Charles Stuart and the bloody
Council ? And had ye more delight to be a doctor or chamberlain
than ye had to be minister?' Oh! let the unfaithful minister
remember that word in the xxxiii. of Ezekiel, verse 6, ' But if the
watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the
people be not warned ; if the sword come, and take any person from
among them, he is taken away in his iniquity ; but his blood will I
require at the watchman's hand.' I fear that the blood of many
souls will be required at the hands of the most part of the ministers
of Scotland.

" 4. I bear witness and leave my testimony against the unfaithful-
ness of many ministers, who have left their wonted love and burn-
ing zeal which they had when they ventured upon the high places
of the earth in preaching the Gospel.

"And now, in the last place, I bear testimony against all that
have preached, written against, or reproached that poor party, that
were occasionally met at Airsmoss, only for the hearing of the Gospel ;

114 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

and now, when I am stepping out of time into eternity, I declare
that I adhere to all the doctrines that ever I heard Mr Richard
Cameron or Mr Donald Cargill preach ; and my soul blesseth God
that ever I heard either of them ; for my soul has been refreshed to
hear the voice and shouting of a king among these field-meetings,
wherein the fountain of living waters has been made to run down
among the people of God, in such a manner that armies could not
have terrified us. Oh ! I am sure the blood that has been shed
in the fields, and on scaffolds, in Scotland, for the cause and
interest of Jesus Christ, will have a glorious crop, in spite of devils
and men ; and I am sure the seed sown at Airsmoss will have as
glorious a vintage as ever any seed in Scotland had.

" And now, oh ! ye that are the poor remnant that are to stay
behind, who are the butt of the fury, not only of the open and
bloody enemies, but also of many ministers and professors, who have
gone out of the way themselves, and will not suffer others to walk in
it ; I have this to say to you ; be earnest and constant in kything \i.e.,
showing] of love to Christ ; walk with more fear, lest ye offend a
holy and jealous God. Oh ! beware that ye quit not your integrity ;
there are many waiting for your halting, yea, and longing for it. Cast
not off the way of Christ because of suffering. If ye knew what of
His love and comforting presence I had, since I was called to wit-
ness for Him against these bloody traitors that are thirsting after the
blood of the Lord's people, ye would long for such proofs of His love ;
seek Him early and ye shall find Him. Be not troubled because of
our death ; it is not a death unto the soul, but an inlet of life to it ;
for to be dead to the world, is to be alive to Christ. Blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : they rest from their
labours, and their works do follow them.

" And rejoice, oh ! ye poor of the flock, that wait with fear and
trembling, and with faith and love in exercise ; it is to you that He
will come. He meeteth him that rejoiceth in and worketh righteous-
ness. Blessed are ye that weep now ; for ye shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek ; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are
the merciful. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteous-
ness ; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart ; for
they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers ; for they shall
be called the children of God. Blessed are they that are reproached
for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are ye when men shall revile you and persecute 30U, and say all

John Potter. 1 1 5

manner of evil against you for My sake. Oh friends ! it is only
you that have ground to rejoice ; if ye by Him be helped to keep
the word of His patience, He will keep you in the hour of tempta-
tion, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell
upon the face of the earth.

" Oh ! dear friends and followers of Christ, hold on your way, weary
not, fiiint not, and ye shall receive the crown of life. It is those
that overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testi-
mony, that shall stand, being clothed in white robes, before the
throne, for these are they that came out of great tribulation. Re-
member that there is a book of remembrance written, and the names
of these are written in it, that speak often one to another. Oh ! my
friends, let it be your study to keep up private fellowship meetings,
wherein so much of the power and life of religion is to be found.
Remember that here I, as a dying sutferer for Christ, leave this
charge to every one of you that have any love to Christ ; set about
this and other duties with more fervent love and zeal than heretofore
hath been done ; and be much in private prayer ; wrestle with God
upon the account of Jacob's trouble. I will say this, that the more
ye seek for Zion, the more ye will get for yourselves. Let not the
reproaches cast upon the way of God, stumble you. And see that
when ye are reviled, ye revile not again ; but rather with meekness
and love, in the fear of the Lord, study ye to gain others ; but if they
will not hearken, when this is done, then be free and faithful in testi-
fying against them for so doing ; but especially let your conversation
testify your dislike of these sinful courses. And now, my dear
friends in Christ, I leave you to Him, who has promised to be with
you in the fire and water, and bear the weight of all your reproaches,
and is afflicted in all your afflictions.

"As for you that are lying in black nature, I exhort you to repent
of your sins, and come out of that woful estate wherein ye are now
lying, and close with a slain Mediator upon His own terms. Oh !
fall in love with the way of salvation. Oh ! can ye think of the way
of redemption, and not stand and wonder at the condescendency of
free grace ? I tell you, except ye repent, ye shall all perish.

" I have a word to speak to you that are cruel and open enemies
to Christ and His cause. Remember, the saints shall judge the
world ; and then we shall not get leave to stand on equal terms with
you ; but we shall be set on thrones, with crowns on our heads, and
harps in our hands, to sing praise to the Lamb. And then we shall

ii6

-/ Cloud of Witnesses.

pass our sentence, with the great Judge, upon all the enemies of God;
and ye shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God,
if ye repent not. I pray that the Lord would open your eyes, that ye
may see your sins, and turn from them and live.

" I forgive all men the wTongs they have done, or can do to me.
But for the wrongs done to Christ, in robbing Him of His right over
His church and people, I know vengeance belongs to God, and He
will repay them. Therefore I leave them under process, ay, and
while \i.e., until] they repent.

" And now I begin to enjoy Him who is invisible ; for it is but
little we can see of Him now , but this I am sure of, that I shall be
made conform to Him through His sufferings. Therefore I take my
leave of all the world, and the enjoyments thereof. I leave my wife
and child to my covenanted God, who gave them to me, and willingly
quit and give them up to Him, hoping that He will be a husband to
the widow, and a father to the fatherless, according to His promise.
I hope that the friends of the Lord will remember the lixdng for
the dead's sake.

" Farewell ^\^fe and child, parents and relations, and all friends
and acquaintances. Welcome heaven, angels, and saints ! Welcome
God and Father ! Welcome lovely Jesus Christ 1 Welcome Holy
Spirit of Grace ; into Thy hands I commend my soul and spirit.

" Sic subscribitur,

"JO. POTTER."

Isabel Alison.

]SABEL ALISON lived ver)^ privately in the town of Perth,
and was of a sober and religious conversation. She
had now and then heard Mr Cargill preach in the fields,
and some few others before Bothwell, but not very often — field con-
venticles not being common in that part of the country. Upon her

Isabel A lison. 1 1 7

nonconformity at Perth, and speaking against the severity used upon
some rehgious people there, she was seized ; but nothing else could
be laid to her charge, till she was brought before some of the magis-
trates, and, in her simplicity, voluntarily acknowledged converse with
some who had been declared rebels. When the Government were
informed of this, a party of soldiers seized her, living peaceably in
her chamber at Perth, and carried her to Edinburgh.

The Acts of Indemnity referred to in this testimony were a Pardon
and Indemnity, dated June 29, 1679, to all tenants and sub-tenants
who had been at Bothwell, provided they submitted by a certain day ;
and a General Indemnity, July 27, 1679. ^^oth are in Wodrow, of the
latter of which he says, it was so clogged that it put no great stop to
the harassing and spoiling of the country by the soldiers. — Ed.]

> ^t* (

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of Isabel
Alison, who lived at Perth, and suffered at Edmburgh,
January 26, t68i.

The Interrogations of Isabel Alison before the
Privy Council :

" When I was brought before the Council, they
asked me, Where did ye live; at St Johnstoun {i.e., Perth]? I
answered, Yes.

" What was your occupation ? To which I did not answer.

" The Bishop asked. If I conversed with Mr Donald Cargill? I
answered, ' Sir, you seem to be a man whom I have no clearness to
speak to.'

" He desired another to ask the same question. I answered, I
have seen him, and wish that I had seen him oftener.

" They asked, If I owned what he had done against the civil
magistrate ? I answered, I did own it.

" They asked. If I could read the Bible ? I answered. Yes.

" They asked. If I knew the duty we owe to the civil magistrate ?
I answered. When the magistrate carrieth the sword for God, accord-
ing to what the Scripture calls for, we owe him all due reverence ;

1 1 8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

but wlien they overturn the work of God, and set themselves in op-
position to Him, it is the duty of His servants to execute His laws
and ordinances on them.

" They asked, If I owned the Sanqunar Declaration ? I answered ,
I do own it.

" They asked, If I owned the papers taken at the Queensferry on
Henry Hall ? I answered. You need not question that.

" They asked. If I knew Mr Skene ? I answered, I never saw
him.

" They asked. If I conversed with rebels ? I answered, I never
conversed with rebels.

" They asked, If I did converse with David Hackston ? I an-
swered, I did converse with him, and I bless the Lord that ever I
saw him \ for I never saw aught in him, but a godly, pious youth.

" They asked. If the killing of the Archbishop of St Andrews
was a pious act ? I answered, I never heard him say that he killed
him ; but if God moved any, and put it upon them to execute His
righteous judgments upon him, I have nothing to say to that.

" They asked me. When saw ye John Balfour [of Kinloch], that
pious youth ? I answered, I have seen him.

" They asked, When ? I answered, Those are frivolous questions.
I am not bound to answer them.

" They said, I thought not that a testimony. They asked, What
think you of that in the Confession of Faith, that magistrates should
be owned, though they were heathens ? I answered, It was another
matter, than when these, who seemed to own the truth, have now
overturned it, and made themselves avowed enemies to it.

"They asked. Who should be judge of these things? I an-
swered, The Scriptures of truth, and the Spirit of God ; and not
men, that have overturned the work themselves.

"They asked. If I knew the two Hendersons that murdered the
Lord St Andrews ? [Andrew Henderson and Alexander Henderson,
in Kilbrachmont, are among the twelve mentioned by Russel as
concerned in the deed. — Ed.] I answered, I never knew any Lord
St Andrews.

" They said, Mr James Sharp, if ye call him so. I said, I never
thought it murder ; but if God moved and stirred them up to execute
His righteous judgment upon him, I have nothing to say to that.

" They asked. Whether or not I would own all that I had said?
for, said they, You will be put to own it in the Grassmarket. And

Isabel A lison. 1 1 9

they bemoaned me, in putting my life in hazard in such a quarrel. I
answered, I think my life little enough in the quarrel of owning my
Lord and Master's sweet truths ; for He hath freed me from ever-
lasting wrath, and redeemed me ; and as for my body, it is at His
disposal.

" They said I did not follow the Lord's practice in that anent
Pilate. I answered, Christ owned His kingly office when He was
questioned on it, and He told them He was a king, and for that end
He was born ; and it is for that that we are called in question this
day — the owning of His kingly government.

" The Bishop said. We own it. I answered, We have found the
sad consequences of the contrary.

" The Bishop said, He pitied me for the loss of my life. 1 told
him. He had done me much more hurt than the loss of my life, or all
the lives they had taken ; for it much more affected me that many
souls were killed by their doctrine.

"The Bishop said, Wherein is our doctrine erroneous? I said,
That was better debated already than a poor lass could debate it.

" They said, Your ministers do not approve of these things, and
ye have said more than some of your ministers ; for your ministers
have brought you on to these opinions, and left you there. I said,
They had cast in baits among the ministers, and harled \i.e., drawn]
them aside ; and although ministers say one thing to-day, and
another to-morrow, we are not obliged to follow them in that.

" Then they said, they pitied me ; for, said they, We find reason
and a quick wit in you ; and they desired me to take it to advisement.
I told them I had been advising on it these seven years, and I
hoped not to change now.

"They inquired mockingly. If I lectured any? I answered,
Quakers use to do so.

" They asked, If I did own Presbyterian principles? I answered.
That I did.

" They asked. If I was distempered ? I told them I was always
solid in the wit that God had given me

" Lastly, they asked my name. I told them, If they had staged
\i.e., accused] me, they might remember my name, for I had told
them already, and would not aye \i.e., always] be telling them. One
of them said, May ye not tell us your name ? Then another of
themselves told it.

1 20 -^ Cloud of Wiluesscs.

HE INTERROGATIONS of Isabel Alison before
the Criminal Lords : —

J^f " Being called before the Criminal Lords, they asked

me, If I would abide by what I said the last day? 1
answered, I am not about to deny anything of it.

*' They said. Ye confessed, that ye harboured the

V killers of the archbishop, though ye would not call it

murder. I said, I confessed no such thing.

" The Advocate said, I did. I answered, I did not ; and I told
them I would take with no untruths,

"He said, Did ye not converse with them? I said, I did con-
verse with David Hackston, and I bless the Lord for it.

" They said, When saw ye him last ? I answered, never since ye
murdered him.

" They desired me to say over what I said the last day. I said,
Would they have me to be my own accuser ?

"They said, The Advocate was my accuser. I said, Let him
say on, then.

" Then they went over the things that passed betwixt the Council
and me the other day, and put me to it — yea, or nay ? I said. Ye
have troubled me too much with answering questions, seeing you are
a judicature which I have no clearness to answer.

"They said. Do ye disown us, and the king's authority in us?

"I said, I disown you all, because you carry the sword against
God and not for Him, and have these nineteen or twenty years made
it your work to dethrone Him by swearing year after year against
Him and His work, and assuming that power to a human creature
which is due to Him alone, and have rent the members from their
Head, Christ, and one another.

*' Then they asked. Who taught you these principles ? I said, I
was beholden to God that taught me these principles.

" They said. Are ye a Quaker ? I said. Did ye hear me say I
was led by a spirit within me? I bless the Lord I profited much by
the persecuted Gospel ; and your Acts of Indemnity after Bothwell
cleared me more than anything I met with since.

Isabel A lison. 1 2 1

"They said, How could that be? I said, By your meddling
with Christ's interests, and parting them as ye pleased.

" They said, they did not usurp Christ's prerogatives, I said,
What, then, mean your Indulgences, and your setting up of Prelacy ?
for there has none preached publicly these twenty years without per-
secution but these that have their orders from you.

"Then they caused bring Sanquhar Declaration and the paper*
found on Mr Richard Cameron, and the papers taken at the Queens-
ferry, and asked if I would adhere to them ? I said I would, as they
were according to the Scriptures, and I saw not wherein they did
contradict them.

" They asked, If ever Mr Welch [John Welch of Trongray. He
was at Pentland, and at Both well Bridge headed the party opposed to
Sir R. Hamilton. — Ed.] or Mr Riddell taught me these principles?
I answered, 1 would be far in the wrong to speak anything that might
wrong them.

" Then they bade me take heed what I was saying, for it was upon
life and death that I was questioned. I asked them if they would
have me to lie ? I would not quit one truth though it would pur-
chase my life a thousand years ; which ye cannot purchase, nor
promise me an hour.

" They said. When saw ye the two Hendersons and John Balfour ?
Seeing ye love ingenuity, will ye be ingenuous and tell us if ye saw
them since the death of the archbishop ? I said. They appeared
publicly within the land since.

" They asked, If I conversed with them within these twelve-
months ? At which I kept silence.

" They urged me to say either yea or nay. I answered, Yes.

"Then they said. Your blood be upon your own head, we shall
be free of it. I answered, So said Pilate ; but it was a question if
it was so ; and ye have nothing to say against me, but for owning
of Christ's truths and His persecuted members. To which they
answered nothing. Then they desired me to subscribe what I
owned. I refused, and they did it for me.

* This paper being taken from him at his death by the enemies who slew him,
no copy thereof, for what I know, has ever been procured, and hence it cannot
be certainly known what was the nature of it. — Notes by Compile?- of "Cloud."
[The paper referred to seems to be the Bond of Mutual Defence which follows the
Short Relation concerning the Rev. Mr Richard Cameron, contained in the Ap-
pendix.— Ed.]

122

A Cloud of Witnesses.

CCOUNT of what Isabel Alison said before the
Assizers.

" Dear Friends, — These are to show you what
passed betwixt the black crev\- and me. They read my
indictment, and asked if I had aught to say against
it? I said, Nothing.

"They read the papers as they did formerly, and
asked. If I owned them ? I said, I did own them.

" Then they called the assizers and swore them. Then I told
tliem, All authority is of God (Rom. xiii. i), and when they appeared
against Him, I was clear to disown them ; and if they were not against
Him, I would not have been there. ' I take every one of you witness
against another, at your appearance before God, that your proceeding
against me is only for owning of Christ, His Gospel, and members,
which I could not disown, lest I should come under the hazard of
denying Christ, and so be denied of Him.'

" And when the assize came, they asked, If I had aught to say
against them ? I said, They were all alike, for there would no honest
man take the trade in hand.

"They said to the assize, It was against their will to take our
lives. I said, if that had been true, they would not have brought
me so far off, pursuing me for my life.

This is the substance of what passed, as I remember.

ARCHIBALD RIDDELL, an indulged minister, and brother
to the laird of Riddell, was employed by the Council to
persuade Isabel Alison and Marion Harvie to conform, but
with no success. He seems to have been a good man, but mistaken
as to his views of the character of the men then in power, for he
soon got into trouble with them. About September 1680, he was
apprehended on the charge of frequenting field conventicles. His
examination occupies about six pages in "Wodrow." It justifies
what Marion Harvie says of his excellence as a preacher. He was
kept in prison for seven months, and then for three or four years
in the Bass ; but was ultimately allowed to go to America. On the

Isabel A lison.

i23

tidings of the Revolution, he left America, June 1689, but on the
way home the ship in which he had set sail was captured by a French
man-of-war, and for twenty-two months Mr Riddell suffered all the
horrors which prisoners in that cruel age were made to undergo. He
was at last exchanged, but now his ship was driven into Bantry Bay,
where he and the ship's comjjany were plundered by the Irish, and
for eleven days suffered all manner of hardship, until rescued by the
Government.

Mr Meldrum, alluded to by the goodman of the Tolbooth, was
George Meldrum, minister at Aberdeen. In 1681 he left his charge
rather than take the test. Shortly after the Revolution he was called
to Edinburgh, where, says Wodrow, " he preached many years to great
edification, and was a mighty master of the Holy Scriptures, and
blessed with the greatest talent of opening them up or lecturing of
any I ever heard." — Ed.]

CCOUNT of Mr Archibald Riddell's Examination of
Isabel Alison and Marion Harvie.

'• About seven of the clock at night the goodman
[/>., governor] of the Tolbooth caused call us down,
'(&\/(^^ against our will, to be examined by Mr Riddell at the
*^Y^ Council's order. So we came dovvai and were brought

^ to the west side of the liouse, to nn empty room, where

they brought him into us, the goodman of the Tolbooth being pre-
sent, and the keepers, and some gentlemen with them ; and they
caused us sit down.

" The goodman of the Tolbooth said, ' Mr Riddell, the Council
caused me bring you to confer with these women, to see if you can
bring them to repentance.'

" Then we protested and said, As for repentance, we know not
what fault we have done.

" Then said they, You cannot be the worse to have one of your
mmisters to confer with. We told them. These ministers being their
servants, we looked no more upon them as ministers of Jesus Christ ;
and therefore he is no minister to us.

" Mr Riddell asked. If the Council would send Mr Cargill to us,
would we not confer with him ? We said, He was not at their com-

1 24 A Cloud of Witnesses.

mand ; but if Mr Cargill would do as ye and the rest of you have
done, we would do the like with him.

" So he offered to pray. We said, We were not clear to join with
him in prayer.

" He said, Wherefore ? AVe said, We know the strain of your
prayers will be like your discourse.

" He said, I shall not mention any of your principles in my prayer,
but only desire the Lord to let you see the evil of your doings. We
told him, we desired none of his prayers at all.

" They said, Would we not be content to hear him ? We said,
forced prayers had no virtue.

" Then we said, What means he to pray with us more than he
did with our brethren that have gone before us ? Mr Riddell said,
Mr Skene conversed with Mr Robert Ross.

"We said, He did not send for him, but he intruded himself
upon him.

" The goodman of the Tolbooth said, He conversed with Mr
Meldrum ; and we smiled at that, and said, He might talk to him of
his perjury, but for no other thing.

"So they urged prayer again. We said, It would be a mocking
of God.

"They said, Why so? We said, Because we cannot join with it.

" So Mr Riddell began to debate with us, and said, A\'e would not
find it in all the Scripture, nor any history, to disown the civil magis-
trate. \Ve answered. There were never such magistrates seen as we
have.

" He instanced Manasseh, who made the streets of Jerusalem to
run with the blood of the prophets. We said, It was a question, if
he came the length in perjur)^

" He instanced Joash. We answered. He was but a child when
that coA-enant was sworn, and it was not so with these that he now
pleaded for.

" He then instanced Nero, how he set the city on fire and robbed
the churches ; and yet, notwithstanding, the apostle exhorteth sub-
mission to the magistrates then being. We answered. It was /;/ the
Lord, and as they were a terror to evil doers.

" He said, Although they were wicked, yet they should not t)e
altogether cast off. We said. Before their Excommunication we
would not have been so clear to cast them oft".

" He said. There were but only seven in the Excommunication,

Isabel A lisou. 125

then why do you cast at all the rest ? We answered, These seven
carried the great sway, and the rest came in under them.

" He said, How can one man take upon him to draw out tlie
sword of excommunication ; for the like was never heard tell of in any
generation ? We answered. Why not one man, since there were no
more faithful ? and the Church hath power to cast out scandalous
persons, be they high, be they low.

" He said, ^^^lo is the Church ? We said, If there was a true
Church in the world, that little handful was one, though never so
insignificant, of which handful we own ourselves a part ; and thougli
our blood go in the quarrel, yet we hope it will be the foundation of
a new building, and of a lively Church.

"He said. Thought we all the ministers \vrong? We answered,
We desire to forbear, and not to add ; for we desire not to speak of
ministers' faults. And we desired him to forbear, and let us be gone ;
but he urged his discourse, and fell on upon the papers that were
taken at the Queensferry, chiefly on that part of them : ' When God
gives them power, it is a just law to execute justice upon all persons
tliat are guilty.'

" And he came to us, and laid by his coat, and said, Would ye
stab me with a knife in my breast, even now? And we smiled, and
said. We never murdered any.

" But, said he. They swore to do so. We said, Why did he not
debate these things with men, and not with lasses? For, we told
him, we never studied debates.

" He said again. Thought we all the ministers wrong ? "\\'e
answered, They were wrong ; and forbade him to put us to it, to
speak of ministers' faults ; for, if he knew what we had to say of
them, he would not urge us. So we desired to be gone.

" And he said. If ye come to calm blood, and desire me, or any
other of the ministers, to speak to you ; ye may tell the keepers,
and ye may have them.

" And there was a chirurgeon among them, and the goodman of
the Tolbooth said. He might draw blood of us, for we were mad.
\\'e said. Saw ye any mad action in us ?

" This is all we can mind at present."

126 .1 Cloud of Witnesses.

HE DYING TESTIMONY AND T.AST WORDS
of Isabel Alison,

" I, being sentenced to die in the Grassmarket of
Edinburgh, January 1681, thought fit to set down,
under my hand, the causes wherefore I suffer. I being
apprehended at Perth, in my own chamber, by an
order from the Council, and brought to Edinburgh
witli a strong guard, and there put in prison, and then being examined
first by a committee, and then by the criminal court, the manner of
my examination was :

" First, If I conversed with David Hackston and others of our
friends? Which I owned upon good grounds.

" Second, If I owned the Excommunication at the Torwood, and
the papers found at the Queensferry, and Sanquhar Declaration,
and a paper found on Mr Cameron at Airsmoss? All which I
owned. Likewise, I declined their authority, and told them that
they had declared war against Christ, and had usurped and taken
His prerogatives, and so carried the sword against Him, and not
for Him.

" So I think none can own them, unless they disown Christ Jesus.
Therefore, let enemies and pretended friends say what they please, I
could have my life on no easier terms, than the denying of Christ's
kingly oftice. So I lay down my life for owning and adhering to Jesus
Christ, He being a free King in His own house, for which I bless the
Lord that ever He called me to that.

" Now, in the first place, I adhere to the Holy Scriptures of the
Old and New Testament ; and likewase I adhere to the Confession
of Faith, because according to the Scriptures ; the Larger and Shorter
Catechisms ; and our Solemn Covenants, both National and Solemn
League, as they were lawfully sw-om in this land ; and I adhere to the
Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties ; I adhere like-
wise to these forementioned papers, and to the Excommunication at
Torwood, they all being according to the Scriptures of Truth, and so
both lawful and necessary ; likewise I adhere to the Rutherglen Tes-
timony, and to all the testimonies of our worthies, who have suffered
in Edinburgh, and elsewhere.

Isabel A liso)i. i 2 7

" In the next place, I enter my protestation against all the viola-
tion done to the work of God these twenty years bygone. Firsts The
burning of the Covenant made with God, and the " Causes of God's
Wrath," and the thrusting in of prelates into the Lord's house, contrary
to the Word of God, and our sworn Covenants. I leave my testi-
mony against Popery, which is so much countenanced at this day, and
against the receiving that limb of antichrist, the Duke of York. Like-
wise I leave my testimony against all the blood shed both on scaf-
folds, and in the fields, and seas ; and against all the cruelty used
against all the people of the Lord. And I leave my testimony against
the paying of that wicked cess, for maintaining of these profane
wretches, to bear down the work of God. I leave my testimony
against all unlawful bonds ; and likewise against the shifting of a
testimony, when clearly called by the Lord to give it.

'' I leave my testimony against all profanity of all sorts ; and like-
wise against lukewarmness and indififerency in the Lord's matters. I
leave my testimony against the unfaithfulness of ministers, first and last;
their silence at the first, when their Master's work was broken down ; for
the most part they slipped from their Master's back, without so much
as giving one word of a testimony against the wrongs done to Him ;
and now are become a snare to the poor people in going to hear the
curates ; and poor things, following their example, are ensnared. My
finding the sad experience of it, brings it the more into my memory.
Yet, notwithstanding of their being convinced of their error in this,
many of them carry now, as if they rued that ever they came forth to
the fields to proclaim their Master a free King in His own house.
And now they are fallen in under the shadow of the sworn enemies ;
and, alas ! they are become profound to lay snares, yea, they are a
trap upon Mispeh, and a net spread upon Tabor ! Oh ! for the sad
defection both of ministers and professors in Scotland ! It is like, our
carriage may make many of our carcasses lie in the wilderness.

" I leave my testimony against the Indulgences, first and last, and
against all that comply therewith, or connive thereat. I leave ray testi-
mony against the censuring of worthy Mr Cameron, or any other whom
God raised up to declare the whole counsel of God, and to witness
against the evils of this generation. I fear, when God makes inquisition
for blood, ministers' hands will not be found free thereof.

" As for charging my blood on any particular person, I cannot,
for I have never gotten the certainty of what hath brought me to the
stage [/.(?., to trial] ; but if any have done it willingly, I leave it to

128 A Cloud of Witnesses.

God and their own conscience. But I may warrantably charge it
upon all the declared enemies of God within the land.

•' Andyfrx/, I leave it on the bloody Council, that sent an order
to take me, for they are guilty of it.

" Secondly, the sheriff-clerk of Perth, and these that were with him
when he took me, are guilty of it ; the sheriff-clerk of Kinross, and
the men that guarded me, are all likewise guilty of my blood.

" And I leave my blood on Sir George Mackenzie, and the rest
of that bloody court, and I take the Lord to witness against them,
whether or not it was on easy terms, that they offered me my life ;
they .said only, they would not trouble me with their bishops ; but
I said that Supremacy was as evil as Prelacy. And they said that
I behoved to say, that the king was not a usurper, and pass from all
my former confession, and that it was my duty to obey authority. I
told them that they were sworn enemies to God, so that it was impos-
sible to obey God and them both ; so I told them I would not retract
an hair-breadth. They said, Thought I ever that he [Charles II.]
was our lawful king ? I said. Yes ; for he entered into covenant with
God and with the land ; but he hath broken and cast off that tie, and
hath exercised so much, both tyranny and cruelty, that I had just
ground to decline him and them both. Then they bade my blood
be upon my own head ; but I told them they would find it would be
on their heads, for it was for owning of Christ's kingly office that they
put me to suffer, say the contrary who will. Now I bless the Lord
I am free from Jesuitical principles. The Scripture is my rule, and
when obedience to men is contrary to obedience to God, I am clear
to disown them.

" I leave my testimony against Mr Riddell, for his obeying these
wicked men to ensnare us, and to hold out to us, before these ac-
cursed enemies of Christ that were siseking our lives for our adhering
to the truth, that it was all delusion that we held. I many times
rued that I bare so well with him, and now I hear that he denies that
which we wrote. But if ye will believe me, who am within a little
to appear before God, there was nothing added, but rather wanting ;
I wish the Lord may forgive him. I bless the Lord, what strikes
against myself only I can very heartily forgive ; but what strikes
against God and His truths, I leave that to God, who is the Judge
of all.

" Now I would only say this to you who are seeking to keep your
garments clean; be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil

TOLBOOTH OF EDINBURGH.

{Soiiih Front.}

Isabel A liso7i. 1 2 9

goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And
as I would have you to be zealous for the truth, and not to quit one
hoof, so I would have you labour against a spirit of bitterness ; beware
of self; and be more ready to mourn for the slips of others than to
make them the subject of your discourse ; and labour to make earnest
of religion, for I find there is need of more than a good cause when
it comes to the push. Oh ! the everlasting covenant is sweet to me
now !

" And I would also say ; they that would follow Christ need not
scar \i.e., be alarmed] at the cross, for I can set to my seal to it,
' His yoke is easy and His burden is light.' Yea, many times
hath He made me go very easy through things that I have thought I
would never win \i.e., get] through ; He is the only desirable Master;
but He must be followed fully. Rejoice in Him, all ye that love Him.
Wherefore lift up your heads, and be exceeding glad, for the day of
your redemption draweth nigh. Let not your heart faint, nor your
hands grow feeble. Go on in the strength of the Lord, my dear
friends, for I hope He will yet have a remnant both of sons and
daughters that will cleave to Him ; though they will be very few, even
as the berries on the top of the outmost branches. As for such as are
grown weary of the cross of Christ, and have drawn to a lee-shore
that God never allowed ; it may be, ere all be done, it will turn like a
tottering fence, and a bowing wall to them, and they shall have little
profit of it, and as little credit.

" But what shall I say to the commendation of Christ and His
cross ? I bless the Lord, praise to His holy name, that hath made
my prison a palace to me; and what am I that He should have
dealt thus with me ? I have looked greedy-like to such a lot as this,
but still thought it was too high for me, when I saw how vile I was ;
but now the Lord hath made that Scripture sweet to me, in the
sixth of Isaiah, ' Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a
live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the
altar : And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath
touched thy lips ; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin
purged.'

" Oh ! how great is His love to me, that hath brought me forth
to testify against the abominations of the times, and kept me from
fainting hitherto, and hath made me to rejoice in Him ! Now I bless
the Lord that ever He gave me a life to lay down for Him.

" Now, farewell all creature comforts ; farewell, sweet Bible ; fare-

1 30 ^1 Clo2id of Witnesses.

well, ye real friends in Christ ; farewell, faith and hope ; farewell,
prayers and all duties ; farewell, sun and moon ; within a little I
shall be free from sin, and all the sorrows that follow thereon. Wel-
come everlasting enjoyments of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
everlasting love, everlasting joy, everlasting light.
" Edinburgh Tolbooth, Jan. 26, 168 1.
" Sic subscribitur,

" ISABEL ALISON."

EING come to the scaffold, after singing the eighty-fourth Psalm,
and reading the sixteenth of Alark, she cried over the scaffold,
and said, '' Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous ; and again,
I say, rejoice." Then she desired to pray at that place, and the
Major came and would not let her, but took her away to the ladder
foot, and there she prayed.

When she went up the ladder, she cried out, " Oh ! be zealous,
sirs, be zealous, be zealous ! Oh ! love the Lord, all ye His ser-
vants, oh ! love Him, sirs ! for in His favour there is life."

And she said, " Oh ! ye His enemies, what will ye do, whither
will ye fly in that day? For now there is a dreadful day coming on
all the enemies of Jesus Christ. Come out from among them, all ye
that are the Lord's own people."

Then, she said, " Farewell all created comforts. Farewell, sweet
Bible, in which I delighted most, and which has been sweet to me
since I came to prison. Farewell, Christian acquaintances. Now,
into thy hands I commit my spirit, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Whereupon the hangman threw her over.

Marion Harvie.

ARION HARVIE was a servant-maid in Borrowstounness.
She says, in her answers before the Privy Council, that her
father had sworn the Covenants, so that, in all probability,
she had enjoyed the advantage of a reUgious education. But she was
fifteen before religious teaching produced good effect upon her mind,
and it would seem that it was a sermon of Richard Cameron which
awakened her to a sense of sin, and led her to the Redeemer.
Henceforward she embraced every opportunity of hearing the
persecuted preachers. She speaks of having heard Donald Cargill.
John Welch, Archibald Riddell, and Richard Cameron.

She was apprehended in November 1680, through means of a
scheme intended to entrap Mr Donald Cargill. James Henderson of
North Queensferry, an informer in the service of Middleton, the
governor of Blackness, found out Cargill in Edinburgh, and got him
persuaded to agree to come to Fife and preach. Meanwhile, a party of
soldiers were lying in wait at Muttonhole, not far from Edinburgh on the
way to Queensferry. James Skene, Archibald Stewart, Mrs Muir, and
Marion Harvie, set out on foot, while Donald Cargill and James Boig
were to follow on horseback. When they came to Muttonhole, they
were seized by the soldiers, but, in the confusion, Mrs Muir escaped.
She fled towards Edinburgh, and stopped Cargill and Boig when on
the way, so that they both escaped. Marion Harvie, James Skene,
and Archibald Stewart, were brought prisoners to Edinburgh. Hen-
derson, says Patrick Walker, got the price of blood, and bought or
built a passage-boat, which he called "The Katharine;" but many
feared to cross the water in her. Henderson, after this, turned miser-
able and contemptible in the eyes of all well-thinking men, and, some
affirm, died cursing, after he got that reward for his treacher}'.

Marion Harvie was brought before the Privy Council. Her
answers to the questions put to her form the first part of her Testi-
mony. There was the same levity in the questions which her enemies

132 A Cloud of Witnesses.

put to her, as in the examination of Isabel Alison ; and Dalziel, with
characteristic ferocity, threatened her with the Boots ; yet her de-
meanour was calm and dignified.

On the 6th of December, she was brought before the Lord-
Justice and the Commissioners of Justiciary. The books of the
Justiciary Court have preserved the following record of her exami-
nation :

"Edinburgh, 6th December 1680. — In presence of the Lords
Justice-Clerk and Commissioners of Justiciary sitting in judgment,
compeared Marion Harvie, prisoner, and being examined, adheres to
the fourth article of the fanatics' New Covenant, the same being read
to her, and disowns the king and his authority, and the authority of the
Lords of Justiciary, and adheres and abides at the treasonable Decla-
ration emitted at Sanquhar, and approves of the same, and says it
was lawful to kill the Archbishop of St Andrews, when the Lord
raised up instruments for that effect, and that he was as miserable
and perjured a wretch as ever betrayed the Kirk of Scotland ; declares
that ministers brought them up to these principles, and now they
have left them, and that she has heard Mr John Welch and Mr
Riddell preach up these principles she now owns, and blesses God
she ever heard them preach so, for her soul has been refreshed by
them. She approves of Mr Cargill's excommunicating the king.
Declares she can write, but refuses to sign the same.
" Sic subscribitnr,

" Maitland.
" David Balfour.
" Da. Falconer.
" Roger Hog."

Marion Harvie's indictment was drawn up from this statement, and
she was tried on Monday the 17th of January 1681. " Her discourse
before the Justiciary Court " forms part of her Testimony. She was
found guilty, but sentence was delayed till the following Friday. Her
sentence was, " that she be taken to the Grassmarket of Edinburgh,
upon Wednesday next, the 26th instant, betwixt two and four o'clock
in the afternoon, and there to be hanged on a gibbet till she be dead,
and all her lands, heritages, goods, and gear whatsomever, to be
escheat and inbrought to our sovereign lord's use; which is pro-
nounced for doom."

In her Testimony she emphatically condemns her enemies, and
leaves her blood upon their heads. The first compilers of the

Marion Harvie. 133

•' Cloud," in a note, remind the reader that such statements are to be
interpreted Hke those of James Skene, as a warning to persecutors
rather than as manifestations of a revengeful spirit. The Rev. James
Anderson, in his interesting volume, " The Ladies of the Covenant,"
in his notice of Marion Harvie, has very appropriately quoted a
passage from a letter of Gray of Chryston, one who suffered much
himself during those times, to Wodrow, which quite agrees with the
views of the compilers :

" As to their leaving their blood upon their enemies in general,
or upon particular persons accessory to their trouble, I could never
understand that they meant more by it than the fastening a convic-
tion upon a brutish, persecuting generation, who vainly justified them-
selves as acting by law, and inferred that not they, but the legisla-
ture, were answerable, if any injustice was done."

Marion Harvie's Testimony closes with an account of her last
moments. She preserved her faith and hope and confidence to the
end. When she came to the scaffold, she and Isabel Alison sang the
Ixxxiv. Psalm, and it is said the tune they sung was the fine old tune,
" Martyrs," verifying the rude lines —

" This is the tune the Martyrs sang
When they were gaun to die,
When at the gallows tree they stood,
Their God to glorifie. "

After reading what was said by her and her fellow-sufferer Isabel
Alison, Peden's short but characteristic eulogium on them will be felt
to be well merited : " They were two honest, worthy lasses."

No execution of those cruel times seems to have excited more
sympathy or a deeper interest throughout the country. In the some-
what coarsely-executed, yet expressive engraving, prefixed to the first
edition of Alexander Shields' " Hind Let Loose," published in 1687,
" Women hanged," evidently Isabel Alison and Marion Harvie,
occupy a place side by side with " The drowned at stakes at sea,"
viz., the Wigtown Martyrs, Margaret Wilson and Margaret M'Lauch-
lan. Fountainhall twice notices their end, and once tries to defend
their execution. One of his chronological notes under 1680 is —

*' Janet [Isabel] Alison in Perth, and one Harvie in Borrow-

stounness, two Cameronian women, were hanged at Edinburgh, 26th
January 1681 ; they called the king and bishops perjured bloody

1 34 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

men. There were five other women executed with them for murder
of their children."

In his " Historical Observes " he has this remark, under date
— 26th January 1681.— " There were hanged at Edinburgh, two
women of ordinary rank, for their uttering treasonable words and
other principles and opinions contrary to all our government ; the
one was named Janet [Isabel] Alison, a Perth woman, the other
[Marion] Harvie, from Borrowstounness. They were of Cameron's
faction, bigot and sworn enemies to the king and the bishops ; of the
same stamp with Rathillet, Skene, Stewart, and Potter ; of whom
supra, where we debate how far men (for women are scarce to be
honoured with that martyrdom, as they think it), are to be punished
capitally for their bare perverse judgment without acting. Some
thought that threatening to dro\vn them privately in the North Loch,
without giving them the credit of a public suffering, would have more
effectually reclaimed them than any arguments which were used ; and
the bringing them to a scaffold but disseminates the infection. How-
ever, the women proved very obstinate, and for all the pains taken
would not acknowledge the king to be their lawful prince, but called
him a perjured bloody man. At the stage, one of them told, so long
as she followed and heard the curates, she was a swearer. Sabbath-
breaker, and with much aversion read the Scriptures ; but found
much joy upon her spirit since she followed the conventicle preach-
ing."

Mr George Johnston, referred to in the questions, was minister 01
Newbattle. He was deprived of his charge by the Act of Council at
Glasgow, 1662. In April 1670, he was seized in Edinburgh on the
charge of frequently keeping conventicles, and confined to the parish
of Borthwick during the Council's pleasure. In August 1675 ^''^
name, along with Donald Cargill, James Frazer of Brea, and many
others, occurs in the Letters of Intercommuning issued by the
Council. Some time previous to the trial of Marion Harvie he
must have accepted the Indulgence. He survived the Revolution.

As to the " rock, cod, and boboons " spoken of in her answers
before the Privy Council, the rock was a distaff, the staff around
which the flax is arranged, and from which it is drawn for
spinning; the cod, i.e., the pincushion or pillow; and boboons, i.e.,
bobbins, the small pieces of wood with a head on which the thread
is wound, in making lace. The phrase is thus equivalent to spinning
and lace-making.

Marion Harvie. 1 35

Marion Harvie leaves her testimony on " Andrew Cunningham,
that gave me my doom." The Doomster, or Dempster, was at
that time an officer of the Court of Justiciary, whose duty it was to
proclaim formally the extreme sentence of the law on the prisoner at
the bar. This odious office was usually held by the public execu-
tioner.— Ed.]

Mf..

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of
Marion Harvie, who lived at Borrowstounness, and
suffered at Edinburgh, the 26th of January 1681.

An Account of her Answers before the
Privy Council.

T " They asked first, How long is it since ye saw Mr

Donald Cargill ? I said, 1 cannoi tell particularly when I saw him.

" They said, Did ye see him within these three months ? I said,
It may be I have.

" They said, Do ye own his Covenant ? I said. What Covenant ?
Then they read it to me ; and I said, I did own it.

"They said, Do ye own the Sanquhar Declaration? I answered,
Yes.

" They said, Do ye own these to be lawful ? I said. Yes ;
because they are according to the Scriptures and our Covenants,
which ye swore yourselves, and my father swore them,

" They said. Yea ; but the Covenant does not bind you to deny
the king's authority. I said. So long as the king held by the truths
of God, which he swore, we were obliged to own him ; but when he
brake his oath, and robbed Christ of His kingly rights, which do not
belong to him, we were bound to disown him and you also.

" They said. Do ye know what ye say ? I said, Yes.

" They said, Were ye ever mad ? I answered, I have all the wit
that ever God gave me. Do you see any mad act in me ?

"They said, Where were you bom? I answered, In Borrow-
stounness.

" They asked, What was your occupation there? I told them I
served.

136 A Cloud of Wihiesses.

" They said, Did ye serve the woman that gave Mr Donald Car-
gill quarters ? I said, That is a question which I will not answer.

" They said. Who did ground you in these principles? I answered,
Christ, by His word.

" They said. Did not ministers ground you in these ? I answered.
When the ministers preached the word, the Spirit of God backed and
confirmed it to me.

" They said, Did ye ever see Mr John Welch [i.e., of Irongray]?
I said. Yes ; my soul hath been refreshed by hearing him.

" They asked. If ever I heard Mr Archibald Riddell ? I answered.
Yes ; and I bless the Lord that ever I heard him.

" They said, Did ever they preach to take up arms against the
king? I said, I have heard them preach to defend the Gospel, which
we are all sworn to do.

" They asked, If ever I sware to Mr Donald Cargill's Covenant ?
I said. No ; but we are bound to own it.

" They said. Did ye ever hear Mr George Johnston ? I said, I
am not concerned with him. I would not hear him, for he is joined
in a confederacy with yourselves.

" They said. Did ye hear the Excommunication at the Tor^vood ?
I said, No ; I could not win [i.e., get] to it.

" They asked. If I did approve of it ? I answered. Yes.

" They asked, If I approved of the killing the Lord St Andrews ?
I said, In so far as the Lord raised up instalments to execute His
just judgments upon him, I have nothing to say against it ; for he
was a perjured wretch and a betrayer of the Kirk of Scotland.

" Then they asked, ^Vhat age I was of ? I answered, I cannot
tell.

" They said among themselves that I would be about twenty
years of age, and began to regret my case, and said. Would I cast
away myself so ? I answered, I love my life, as well as any of you
do ; but would not redeem it upon sinful terms ; for Christ says,
' He that seeks to save his life, shall lose it.'

" They said, A rock, the cod and boboons, were as fit for me to
meddle with as these things. Then one of them asked when the
assize should sit ? and some other of them answered, on Monday.

" Then they asked, If I could write ? I answered, Yes.

" Will you subscribe, said they, what you have said ? I answered,
No. They bade the clerk set down that I could write, but refused
to subscribe.

Marion Harvie. 1 3 7

" Then they asked, If I desired to converse with any of our minis-
ters ? I said, What ministers ?

" They said, Mr Riddell. I said, What would ye have me to do
with him ?

" They said, He might convince you of that sin. I said, What
sin?

" They said, The sin of rebellion. I smiled, and said, If I were
as free of all sin as the sin of rebellion, I should be an innocent
creature.

" They asked. If they should bring Mr Riddell to me. I said, It
was an evidence he was not right, since they had him so much at
their will. And I told them, I would have none of their ministers.
This is all I can remember at this present."

ARION HARVIE'S DISCOURSE before the Justi-
ciary Court :

" First, I was brought and set in the pannel [/>.,
at the bar], with the murderers, and they read over my
indictment, and asked me, If I did confess with these
things ? I answered, Yes.

" Then they read the Sanquhar Declaration, and
asked, If I owned it ? I answered, Yes.

" They read that paper which they call the New Covenant, and
asked. If I owned it ? I answered. Yes.

" Then I protested they had nothing to say against me, as to
matter of fact ; but only because I owned Christ and His truth, and
persecuted Gospel and members, ' of which [I said] ye have hanged
some, others you have beheaded and quartered quick ' [/>., alive, as
Hackston of Rathillet]. To that they replied nothing ; but called
the assizers, \j.e., jurymen], who had no will to appear, till they were
about to fine them, and then they came forward.

" One of them said, he did not desire to be one of the assize, but
they would have him. He bade them read our confession ; for he
knew not what they had to say against us. They bade him hold up
his hand, and swear that he would be true, and he could not, but fell
on trembling.

" The Advocate bade the assizers look if I had anything to say

1 38 A Cloud of Witnesses.

against them. I said I knew none of them but what were all bloody
butchers together. And when the assize were set in a place by
themselves, I said to them, ' Now, beware what ye are doing ; for
they have nothing to say against me, but only for owning Jesus
Christ and His persecuted truths ; for ye will get my blood upon
your heads.' So that man that fell on trembling before, desired them
to read my confession to him, and they read it.

" And after that the Advocate had a discourse to them, and said,
' Ye know these women are guilty of treason.' The assize said,
' They are not guilty of matters of fact.' He said, ' But treason is
fact,' and taking [/>., correcting] himself again, he said, ' It is true, it
is but treason in their judgment ; but go on according to our law, and
if ye will not do it, I will proceed.' And when they had read my
confession, they had set down that I had said, The ministers had
taught mc these principles. I said, ' That is a lie, and it is like the
rest of your lies ; ' so I said, that it was Christ by His Word that
taught me. They answered nothing to that, but said. Would I own
the rest of my confession ? I answered, Yes.

" The Advocate said, ' We do not desire to take their lives \ for
we have dealt with them many ways, and sent ministers to deal with
them, and we cannot prevail with them.* I said, ' We are not con-
cerned with you and your ministers.'

" The Advocate said, * It is not for religion, that we are pursuing
you ; but for treason.' I answered, ' It is for religion that ye are pur-
suing me ; for I am of the same religion that ye are all sworn to be
of; but ye are all gone blind. I am a true Presbyterian in my judg-
ment.*

" So they put the assize into a room by themselves, and removed
me without the guard into another room ; then they read the delay
till Friday at twelve of the clock. And I charged them before the
tribunal of God, as they should answer there ; for, said I, ' ye have
nothing to say to me, but for my owning the persecuted Gospel.'

Marion Harvie. 139

HE DYING TESTIMONY AND LAST WORDS
of Marion Harvie.

" Christian Friends and Acquaintances, I
being to lay down my life on Wednesday next, January
26, 1 68 1, I thought fit to let it be known to the world
wherefore I lay down my life, and to let it be seen
that I die not as a fool or as an evil-doer, or as a busy-
body in other men's matters ; no, it is for adhering to the truths of
Jesus Christ, and avowing Him to be King in Zion, and head of His
Church ; and the testimony against the ungodly laws of men ; and
their robbing Christ of His rights, and usurping His prerogative
royal, which I durst not but testify against ; and I bless His holy
name, that ever He called me to bear witness against the sins of the
times, and the defections of upsitten \i.e., callous] ministers and
professors.

" I. I adhere to the holy and sweet Scriptures of God, which
have been my rule in all I have done, in which my soul has been
refreshed.

"2. I adhere to the Confession of Faith, because agreeable to
the Scriptures.

"3. I adhere to the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

"4. I adhere to the Covenants, National and Solemn League,
and the work of Reformation.

" 5. I adhere to all the faithful testimonies which have been
left by our faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, either on scaffolds or
fields.

" 6. I adhere to the papers found at the Queensferry,on Henry Hall.

'* 7. I adhere to the Declaration at Sanquhar, and the testimony
at Rutherglen, and the papers found on worthy Mr Richard Cameron.

" 8. I adhere to the Excommunication at the Torwood.

" 9. I adhere to the excommunication of the bishops and their
underlings [The bishops were deposed and excommunicated by the
General Assembly, at Glasgow, session 20, December 13, 1638. —
Ed.] ; and I die in the faith of it, that the Lord hath ratified that in
heaven, which His faithful servants have done on earth, as to the
casting out these traitors to God out of the Church.

1 40 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" And now I desire to bless the Lord for my lot. My lot is
fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage.

" I leave my blood upon the traitor that sits upon the throne ;
then on James, Duke of York, who was sitting in the Council when I
was examined the first day. And I leave my blood on the bloody
crew that call themselves rulers. And I leave it on James Hender-
son in the North Ferry, who was the Judas that sold Archibald
Stewart and Mr Skene, and me, to the bloody soldiers for so much
money. I leave my blood on Sergeant Warrock, who took me, and
brought me to prison. I leave my blood on the Criminal Lords, as
they call themselves, and especially that excommunicate tyrant George
Mackenzie, the Advocate, and the fifteen assizers, and on Andrew
Cunningham that gave me my doom ; and on that excommunicate
traitor Thomas Dalziel, who was porter that day that I was first before
them, and threatened me with the Boots.*

" I give my testimony against the burning of the Covenants, which
were solemnly sworn by the three nations with uplifted hands to the
great God of heaven and earth. I leave my testimony against all
the bloodshed and massacres of the Lord's people, either on scaffolds
or in the fields. I protest against banishings and finings, and cruel
murderings, especially the inhuman murder of worthy David Hack-
ston. I leave my testimony against the paying of the cess, employed
for the bearing down the preaching of the Gospel, and the taking
and killing the poor followers of Jesus Christ. I leave my testimony
against the professors that say this is not the truth of God for which
I suffer, and call the way of God delusion.

" I leave my testimony against Mr Archibald Riddell, who be-
came servant to the bloody lords, and made it his work to make me
deny Christ, and betake myself to the ungodly laws of men, and to call
the truths of God delusions, which I am to seal with my blood ; and
I rejoice that ever He counted me worthy so to do. Oh! I may
say, What am I, or what is my father's house, that He should have
called me out to seal His truths with my blood ? — which truths, both
ministers and professors have counted prudence to disown and deny;
for which the land will be made to mourn, and sorely to smart ere
all be done. I leave my testimony against Mr John Blair, that said
I had no more grace than his staff had, and was witness to my sen-
tence that day I got it ; and his wife, that said I had no more grace
nor [/.(?., than] her old shoes, as if grace were not free, and as though
* Understand this jiaiagraph with the caution, given page 95.

Marioft Harvie. 141

Christ had not enough to give me, I leave my testimony against
both ministers and professors that have joined themselves in any of
these courses of defection with the enemies, and are fast in their
camps.

" I leave my testimony against Popery, Prelacy, Quakerism, and
Indulgency, and desire to mourn for it that ever I joined with them in
hearing them, or any of those that connive at them. I leave my testi-
mony against all Jesuitical principles, although our professors say that I
adhere to them ; I deny it ; and I take God to be my witness that I
hate all opinions that are contrary to the sound truths of God. And
since ever God called me to follow His persecuted Gospel, it was still
my desire to stick close by Him, and the rule He has set down for poor
sinners to walk by ; and it was always my rejoicing to serve Him,
and to act and do for His truth, and to vindicate it. And many
a sore heart I have had with them, in vindicating His truths, when
they have been denying them, and casting dirt in the faces of faithful
witnesses of Jesus Christ ; and I desire all these that are endeavouring
to contend for Christ and His truths, that they would be faithful in
their witnessing for Him, and eschew the least appearance of sin.
For I, a dying witness of Christ, obtest you, as you will answer when
ye stand before Him in the day of your appearance, that ye be
faithful in owning Him in all His truths, and not yield a hoof to
these ungodly, perjured, bloody and excommunicate traitors and
tyrants ; for there is much advantage to be had in faithfulness for
Christ, and that I may set to my seal to the truth of And I think
Christ is taking a narrow \i.e., close] view of His followers at this
time ; for there are few that yield a hairbreadth of the truths of God
that readily win [/.<?., get] to their feet again, but go from one degree
of defection to another.

" And again, I desire to bless and magnify the Lord for my lot, and
may say, He hath brought me to the wilderness to allure me there, and
speak comfortably to my soul. It was but little of Him I knew when
I came to prison, but now He has said to me, because He hves,
I shall live also ; and He has told me, ' I am He, that hath blotted
out thine iniquity for my own name's sake.' Kind has He been to
me since He brought me out to witness for Him. I have never
sought anything from Him that was for His glory, since I came to
prison, but He granted me my desire. For the most part, I have
found Him in everything that hath come in my way, ordering it
Himself for His own glory. And now I bless Him that thoughts of

142 A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

death are not terrible to me. He hath made me as willing to lay
down my life for Him as ever I was willing to live in the world.

" And now, ye that are His witnesses, be not afraid to adventure
upon the cross of Christ, for His yoke is easy and His burden is
light. For many times I have been made to think strange what
makes folk cast at [/.<?., object to] the cross of Christ, that has been
so light to me that I found no burden of it at all ; He bore me
and it both. Now, let not the frowns of men and their flatteries
put you from your duty. Keep up your societies and the assembling
of yourselves together, for there is much profit to be found in it.
Many times hath it been found comfortable to me to hear of the few
in Scotland in which Christ was delighting ; and that there was much
love to God's glory and zeal for His honour amongst them.

" Now, be humble and lie in the dust, and never give over crying
in behalf of the Church, which is so small that it can scarcely be
discerned, and never give over till He appear, for I think He is near
at hand. Oh ! watch, and double your diligence, and hold fast till
He come, and let none take your crown, for He is good to the soul
that seeks Him. If I were to live again, I would let that perjured
crew see that I should be more guilty of that which they call rebellion,
in serving my lovely King, and in acting and doing for Him and His
glory, if He called me to it ; and it is my grief that I have not been
more faithful for my master Christ. All His dealings with me have
been in love and in mercy. His corrections have been all in love
and free grace. Oh ! free love ! Oh ! I am oft made to wonder
what it was that made Him take a blasphemer to witness for Him
and His truths. I may say, I am a brand plucked out of the fire ;
I am a limb of the devil plucked out from his fireside. Oh I I am
made to wonder and admire at His condescending love.

" Now I leave my testimony against Jean Forrest, for saying that
I was going to the grave with a lie in my right hand, and charging
my blood on my own head. Oh I my friends, come out from among
them, and touch not the unclean thing. It will never be well till
there be a separation from sin. I bless the Lord that ever I heard
Mr Cargill, that faithful servant of Jesus Christ ; I bless the Lord
that ever I heard Mr Richard Cameron ; my soul has been refreshed
with the hearing of him, particularly at a communion in Carrick, on
those words in Psalm Ixxxv. ver. 8 : ' The Lord will speak peace to
His saints and people, but let them not return to folly.'

'* Now, I leave my testimony against all the backsliding ministers.

Marion Harvie. 143

who, when I began to hear the Gospel, preached the same truths
which I am to lay down my life for at this time, but now they are
joined in a combination against God, and for the most part are all at
the enemies' will ; for when I got my sentence, the bloody traitors
promised to bring any of our own ministers to us, when before them ;
and so this gives me ground to say, they are become their servants.
Now, the Lord knows I have a sore heart to mention these things ;
but when I saw some of them there, and they offering us any of the
rest, it gives me ground to set it down with a sore heart.

" Now, what shall I say ? I have sinned against Him, and I am
guilty of the defections, for which my carcase must He in the wilder-
ness, and not see the King come home to His habitation. But oh !
"I am content, and heartily content, that He gives me my soul for a
prey ; and well is me for it ; I think myself not behind. Oh ! mj-
love ; Oh ! my love ; Oh ! my love ; my altogether lovely Christ !

" The common report through the country is, that I might have
had my life on very easy terms ; but I could have it on no easier
terms than the denying of my Lord and Master, Christ. First, they
asked, if I would retract my former confession, and particularised
all the papers I had owned before, and if I would not call Charles
Stuart a usurper and the devil's vicegerent. I told them I would
not go back in anything, ' for ye have nothing,' said I, * to lay to
me but for the avowing Christ to be King in Zion, and head of His
own Church.' And they said, they did not usurp Christ's crown.
But I said they were blinded and did not see. They said there were
but a few of us for these principles. I said they had all the wyte
[/>., blame] of it, and it was most bitter to us, that our ministers had
spoken against these truths.

*' And, indeed, I think they had not been so cruel to me, were
it not these ministers. And so I think our ministers are not
free of our blood ; for when they spake against us and the way, it
hardened these bloody traitors, and emboldened them to take our
lives. I leave my testimony against them, for they have caused many
poor things to err from the way of God, and many have made ministers
their rule, and so the blind have led the blind, and both have fallen
into the ditch together. And some think and say : ' Oh ! can we
quit so many godly ministers? We dow not \i.e., cannot bring our-
selves to] quit them.' But I assure you ye shall get a share of the
wrath and stroke which God hath prepared for these backsliders and
betrayers of their trust. Oh ! I wonder what is the reason that men

1 44 ^ Cloud of Witiiesses.

count it their wisdom to deny God, who has been so kind to them,
and who have many a day dehghted to commend His love to me,
with the hazard of their lives ; for which I shall be a witness against
them.

" Now, I have no more to say : be faithful unto death, or else,
woe ! woe ! woe ! to you that are owning Him at this day, if ye do
not own Him in all His offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet. Oh !
my dear love ! well is me that ever He let me know that His love
was better than life. Woe to that creature that will not love my
lovely Lord Jesus Christ.

" Now, farewell holy and sweet Scriptures, which were aye my
comfort in the midst of all my difficulties. Farewell faith, farewell
hope, farewell wanderers, who have been comfortable to my soul,
in the hearing them commend Christ's love. Farewell brethren, fare-
well sisters ; farewell Christian acquaintances ; farewell sun, moon,
and stars ! And now, welcome my lovely and heartsome Christ Jesus,
into whose hands I commit my spirit throughout all eternity. I may
say — ' Few and evil have the days of the years of my pilgrimage been,'
I being about twenty years of age.

" From the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, the women-house on the east
side of the prison, Jan. nth, 1681.

"MARION HARVIE."

ill

HIS martyr, though both young in years and of the weaker
sex (which heightens the discovery how brutally furious and
mad these persecutors were), was so singularly assisted of
the Lord in His cause, and had such discoveries of His special love
to her soul, that she was nothing terrified by her adversaries when
she was brought from the tolbooth to the Council-house to be carried
to her execution. As she came out of the tolbooth door, several
friends attending her, she was observed to say, with a surprising
cheerfulness and air of heavenly ravishment : " Behold, I hear my Be-
loved saying unto me. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away."
And being brought to the Council, Bishop Paterson being resolved,
seeing he could not destroy her soul, yet to grieve and vex it, said,
" Marion, you said you would never hear a curate, now you shall be
forced to hear one ;" upon which he ordered one of his suffi-agans,
whom he had prepared for the purpose, to pray. So soon as he
began, she said to her fellow-prisoner, Isabel Alison : " Come, Isabel,
let us sing the twenty-third Psalm," which accordingly they did —

Marion Harvie. 145

Marion repeating the Psalm, line by line, without book — which
drowned the voice of the curate, and extremely confounded the per-
secutors.

Being come to the scaffold, after singing the eighty-fourth Psalm
and reading the third of Malachi, she said : " I am come here to-day
for avowing Christ to be head of His church and King in Zion. Oh !
seek Him, sirs ; seek Him and ye shall find Him. I sought Him
and found Him ; I held Him and would not let Him go."

Then she briefly narrated the manner how she was taken, and
recapitulated in short the heads of her written testimony, saying to
this effect —

" I was going out of Edinburgh to hear the persecuted Gospel in
the fields ; was taken by the way with soldiers, and brought in to the
guard ; afterwards I was brought to the Council, and they questioned
me if I knew Mr Donald Cargill, or if I heard him preach. I
answered, I bless the Lord I heard him, and my soul was refreshed
with hearing him, for he is a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

" They asked, if I adhered to the papers gotten at the Ferry. I
said I did own them, and all the rest of Christ's truths. If I would
have denied any of them, my life was in my offer ; but I durst not do
it, no, not for my soul. Ere I wanted an hour of His presence,
I had rather die ten deaths. I durst not speak against them lest I
should have sinned against God.

" I adhere to the Bible and Confession of Faith, Catechisms and
Covenants, which are according to this Bible (whereupon she clapped
her hands upon the Bible).

" I also adhere to the testimonies given by the faithful witnesses
of Christ, that have gone before us on scaffolds and in the fields.

" I leave my testimony against all Quakers, Jesuits, Indulgences,
and all profane and ungodly persons, and mainly all covenant-
breakers, and persecutors of His way and truths, which I am here to
seal with my blood ; against all payers of cess, and bonders, and
against all oppression or murdering. They say I would murder ; but
I declare I am free of all matters of fact. I could never take the
life of a chicken but my heart shrinked. But it is only for my
judgment of things I am brought here.

" I leave my blood on the Council and the Duke of York." At
this the soldiers interrupted her and would not allow her to speak
any. But she cried out : "I leave my blood on all ungodly and pro-
fane wretches."

146

A Cloud of Witnesses.

The most of her discourse was of God's love to her, and the
commendation of free grace ; and she declared she had much of the
Lord's presence in prison, and said : " I bless the Lord the snare
is broken and we are escaped."

And when she came to the ladder foot she prayed ; and going up
the ladder, she said : " Oh ! my fair one, my lovely one, come away ;"
and sitting down on the ladder she said : " I am not come here for
murder, for they have no matter of fact to charge me with, but only
my judgment. I am about twenty years of age. At fourteen or
fifteen I was a hearer of the curates and indulged ; and while I
was a hearer of these I was a blasphemer and Sabbath-breaker ; and
a chapter of the Bible was a burden to me ; but since I heard this
persecuted Gospel I durst not blaspheme, nor break the Sabbath, and
the Bible became my delight." With this the major called to the
hangman to cast her over ; and the murderer presently choked her.

[Wodrow adds : " I am informed they were executed with some
three or four wicked women, guilty of murdering their own children,
and other villanies, which was very grievous to these two. One of
the Episcopal ministers of the town, who waited upon the others on
the scaffold, railed bitterly upon these sufferers, and assured them
they were in the road to damnation ; while he, without any evidence
of penitence, was sending the other wicked wretches straight to
heaven. However, Isabel Alison and Marion Harvie were not
commoved, but sang some suitable Psalms on the scaffold, and prayed,
and died with much composure and joy." — Ed.]

V/illiam Gouger, Christopher Miller, and
Robert Sangster.

ILIJAM GOUGER belonged to Bonowstounness ; Robert
Sangster is described as a Stirlingshire man ; and Chris-
topher Miller a weaver in Gargunnock, a village six miles
to the west of Stirling. Miller was tried March 2d, 1681. on the

William Gotiger, elc. 147

charge of treason. He confessed that he had been at Bothwell
Bridge, and that he might lawfully rise in arms against the king for
the Covenant. He declared he could not write. He was found
guilty, and sentenced to be hanged on the nth inst. Gouger and
Sangster were tried March 8th, on the same charge as Miller. Their
confessions were similar. Both were condemned to die on the nth
of March. As will be seen from the statement by the compilers of
the "Cloud," at the close of the joint testimony, the soldiers showed
great cruelty to Gouger on his attempting to speak to the people.
He was hanged immediately, without giving him time to pray. — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

HE JOINT TESTIMONY of William Gouger,
Christopher Miller, and Robert Sangster, who
lived in the Shire of Stirling, and suffered at the (kass-
market of Edinburgh, March nth, 1681. Directed to
the Shire of Stirling.

" The Lord, in His holy providence, having singled
us out of that shire to seal His controverted truths with
our blood, we could not but leave a line behind us (we being Stir-
lingshire men), to let you know wherefore we are come here this day,
to this place of execution ; that it is for adhering to that which
ministers and professors are disowning. And the Lord seeing it fit to
honour us beyond others, now in this day of defection and back-
drawing from the truth, we tell you that it is truth we are to suffer
for. Although ye condemn us in it, and say that we have a hand in
our own death, yet we durst not, for our souls, do otherwise, or else
we would have been sure of the broad curse of God on us and our
lives both. You may think that it is a novelty of our own head, that
we are brought hither for ; but if any of you had that love to the
Lord that you seemed to have once-a-day, you would count it your
duty, as well as ours, to contend for the sweet truths of God, when
you see Him so wronged, and His rights so usurped and taken from
Him ; who was both sweet and kind to poor things at hill-sides, and
especially among you of that shire.

'* Oh sirs ! you may take shame to you, for all that you have done

1 48 A Cloud of Witnesses.

against the honour of God ; that have seen His goings so stately among
the meetings of His people ; that will not contend for lovely Christ.
Oh I do ye not think that a sad day will come on you for jom-
ing with God's enemies, who have broken Covenant with Him, and
shed the blood of the saints, and trampled on the honour of God?
And ye will not fear to join with them for all the blood they have
shed \ you will still go on with them ; and, though you profess that
you have love to the Son of God, and that your zeal for the Lord God
of Hosts is not abated, yet you will go on with them, and bond and
comply in paying of cess and militia money, to maintain a party
against God and His work, which once in a day you were forward to
maintain, and would have ventured your life in the maintaining of it
against all the Lord's enemies. You may justly take shame to your-
selves, for your preferring the things of time to the sweet cross of
lovely Christ. Oh sirs ! what think ye will your doom be, that have
done so much against the honour of a holy God ? Indeed you may
look out for \vrath, and that of the saddest sort.

" Now, as dying men, we tell you that there are sad days abiding
you, for what you have done to the honour and glory of God, if ye
get not speedy repentance. Therefore, as you would answer in the
great day, make conscience of what ye do. Remember that you will
count and reckon for all that you have done, and will be reckoned as
guilty of the blood of the saints — as the worst enemies amongst them
all. Therefore, as dying men, we charge you take with [/.f., acknow-
ledge] guilt, or else it will be worse for you.

" Oh sirs ! fear the Lord's wrath, and fall to and mourn for what
you have done. Oh ! cry mightily for repentance, or else you will
get Judas's reward ; for you are the persons that have betrayed the
Son of God, and expelled Him out of your coasts. You were think-
ing that He was like to prove a costly Christ, and therefore you of
that shire would give consent to banish Him away from among you.
You would not hear tell of a field preaching for fear of hazard !

" Oh sirs ! take it to consideration, and lay to heart what a hand
you have in banishing Christ and the Gospel out of Scotland ; and we
are sure, it was not your parts to have done so. No, no ! it was not
your part to have given lovely Christ such an affront ; the sweet days
that you have had long since, might have made you give Royal Jesus
better quarters, though you should go to the gibbet for it, and lose
your gear. For, your doing as you have done, is a denying of Him
before men.

William Gougei% etc. 149

" Take it as ye will, we must tell you, as in the sight of the living
God, before whom we are now to appear, and get our sentence for all
that we have done, you are the only shire that has denied lovely
Christ quarters ; for He sent an offer to you to the Torwood, and ye
would not hear it. Well, it is likely there are many of you that will
never get another ; there are some of you that would not go to hear,
but forbade others to go, and thought it was duty not to go ; and
some of you were at that preaching, and made a bad use of it. Oh
remember, sirs ! you have rejected Christ. We tell you it as dying
men, you will count for it ere it be long ; for our Lord did not send
the Gospel to the Torwood for naught, but it will accomplish that
for which it was sent.

" Oh sirs ! be afraid and tremble, for judgment is at the door ;
and indeed your sentence will be sore to bide [/>., endure] — it will
be more tolerable for open enemies in the day of judgment, than for
you. We are afraid when we think what judgments will be on you
shortly ; for, considering what pains have been taken on you of
that shire, and how tender the Lord has been of you, in training you
up for suffering; and has given you trials, and you have endured
them ; and He has taken them off again, and given you sorer trials,
and He has delivered you out of these ; it had been better for you
that you had been at that preaching, though you should have gotten
the gallows the very next day, than to have done what ye did ; and
that you will find ere it be long.

" Oh ! what of His kindness have you met with at such places 1
You dare not say, that He has been a barren wilderness or a land
of drought to you. Testify against Him, if He was not kind to you ;
so long as ye abode by Him, He abode by you ; and He was tender
of you, so long as ye kept faithful to Him ; but after ye turned into
the enemies' camp, then He turned to be your enemy, and fought
against you ; and in all that you do, God will be seen to be against
you. You may thrive in the world, but it will be a dear thriving to
you ; you will get the wrath of God with it. But ye have done with
thriving in the worship of God ; indeed, there are many of you that
hold your life no more of God. Remember, we tell you of it, who
are ^vithin a few hours to eternity.

" Now, it is like, you will not notice what the like of us say, but
will allege that we are dying as fools, and have no Presbyterian prin-
ciples, but notions ; but we say the contrary. We say, we are not
fools as to that, however the world may think and look on us as

150 A Cloiici of Witnesses.

such. We sa}', we have Presbyterian principles, and are Presbyterians
in our judgments, and will make it appear, that we die as Christians,
and as those that own the truths of God, and are standing to what
ministers once taught us ; although this day they are turned to the
contrary, and condemning us, and saying, that we have nothing but
notions of our own heads, that make us do such things. But they will
not find it so in the Day of Accounts.

" I. You may say, that it is not a Presbyterian principle to cast
oft" magistrates.

"We grant with you; but where are the magistrates? Indeed,
they were once placed such ; but they cast out themselves, when
they brake the Covenant, and set up a cursed Supremacy, insulting
over the Lord's inheritance ; and when they have done that, we think
they are no more to be owned as magistrates by Presbyterians; but
to be cast off", and witnessed against ; and when it comes to that part
of the play, do ye not think, that it was our part to contend for truth ?

" Oh sirs ! do ye not believe Jesus Christ to be the eternal
Son of God, and that all things were made for Him, and by Him,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers ?
What is not His ; and that by free gift and donation — by an
eternal decree — intimated to us in the second Psalm, where, in
more particular manner, He is declared to be King in Zion, and
all the heathen promised to the enlargement of His kingdom ? Oh
sirs ! do ye not believe, that Scotland became His, with its own
consent, as the product of that decree, and the fruit of His inter-
cession and purchase ; and that He allows no authority to be owned,
and submitted unto in Scotland, but only in so far as they keep
the line of subordination to the Son of God ? Or do you believe,
that Scotland should have no other magistrates but such as should
be of God's choosing, men of truth, able men, fearing God, hating
covetousness ; and that the land was bound by Covenant to have
such, under the pains contained in the law, and danger both of soul
and body, in tlie day of the Lord's fearful appearance to judgment?
We believe many a man's wit in that day shall be counted foolish-
ness.

" Then, if this be a ground, we are sure ye must say, that day
that Charles Stuart was crowned, perjury became national ; only pro-
fessors as to this point were free. Do ye think we would, without
perjur}- and treachery to God, own Charles Stuart's authority any
longer, when he held not his authority of God ? But it being

William Ganger, etc. 151

manifest, that in Middleton's Parliament [held at Edinburgh, January
1 66 1, in the Acts asserting the king's majesty to be supreme in
all causes, civil or ecclesiastical, and denying the obligation of the
Solemn League and Covenant. — Ed.] he disclaimed that title to
authority, we think we were bound to witness our loyalty to Another,
and that we were freely absolved from obedience and fidelity to him
then, and could not own his authority without gross perjury ; he
declaring, ' he would have no homage upon the account of the Cove-
nant.' Would ye not count him a distracted man that would cleave
to him on that account, whether he would or not ? Yea, and who-
ever do it, we know they will find themselves fools. Do you believe,
that in the day that Covenant was taken, any within the nation was
not bound to perform and prosecute it, and that God will [not] punish
the destroyers of that Covenant ? Do ye think that Act explanatory
of the Supremacy is not a plain renunciation of the word of God, the
law of nature, the Covenant, and human society, and setting up devilism
and confusion, without a full, free, and direct public testimony to the
contrary ? We are sure, that every public breach of Covenant
requires public repentance. We think there can none be absolved
without this; for in express terms our Lord says, ' Whosoever denies
me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven.'
Now, there should not only be a testimony given, but a walking ac-
cording to it afterwards.

" Oh sirs ! would you have none to witness against the abomina-
tions of this day ? Indeed you are all mistaken, for our Lord will
not want witnesses to witness for Him, however few and feckless
[/>., feeble] they be; yet He will make the things that are not con-
found the things that are. Oh sirs ! think you it not a sin, to join
with them who have rejected the living God, and will not have Him
to reign over them ? Do ye not think it duty to protest against
them, that are trampling our Lord's glory under foot ? Oh sirs !
do ye not think yourselves guilty of breach of Covenant, that have
connived at these men, that have their hands reeking in the blood
of the saints, when you are strengthening their hands in the doing
of it? We think you guiltier nor [/.<?., than] these wretches; be-
cause you join with them in sin, whereas you should have protested
against them in the committing of such acts. We wot [z>., know]
well, if ye read the Bible, ye will count yourselves as guilty as they
are, and the guiltiest of the two ; for it was your part to have con-
tended for the truth, and stood in defence thereof, unto the losing of

152 A Cloud of Wiiuesscs.

lives and liberties, and all that you had. The Lord has cast them
off, and yet you will do what in you lies to hold them up, who shed
the blood of those who were once in a day your dear brethren !

" It may be, you will say, that Samuel knew that Saul was
rejected of God, and yet he did not cast him off. We answer, he
did what lay in his power to get him cast off; for he went and
anointed David in his stead, and durst not do it publicly, but
secretly, for fear of Saul ; neither did Samuel converse much with
Saul after that.

" Next, you say, That David's heart smote him, for taking and cut-
ting off the lap of Saul's garment, and said, that he would not stir[/>.,
hurt] the Lord's anointed. Now, we say, he had two reasons, v/hich
we have not. First, he had that reason, that he was the Lord's anointed.
Secondly, it was his own particular quarrel ; because he was to reign in
his stead. So we say, that Charles Stuart is not the Lord's anointed,
neither is it our particular quarrel, but in defence of the Gospel, and
in so far as he is an enemy to God and the way of salvation ; which is
sufficient ground to cast any person out of the Church, and witness
against him, in the defence of the Gospel, unto the losing of life and
liberty, and all other things.

" And, believe us as ye will, we do not think them Christians,
that \vill not contend for lovely Christ and His sweet truths, in
witnessing against this bloody excommunicate traitor, and not owning
them as rulers ; seeing they have disowned the just and holy One,
and are trampling on His sweet truths, and would never have them
to rise again, but would have the stone sealed, that there might be
no more mention made of the honour of God.

"And you have a deep hand in this, because ye are not faithful
and free in witnessing for His despised glor}^ And if ye will not
do it, deliver)' to the Church shall come from another airt [/>.,
quarter], and you shall all be destroyed ; for He will be up again in
spite of all your hearts ; and He will make your fears and theirs both
come on you, for He will make inquisition for all His truths ; and
when He comes indeed, we would not al)ide the reproof that you,
the professors of Stirlingshire, will get. for all the gold in Europe.
There will be no excuse heard then ; your wife and children, or lands,
will be no excuse ; for He hath told us in express terms, that who-
soever will not forsake all, and follow Him, cannot be His disciple.
Wife and children, houses and lands, must all go for Him. And you
must take up His cross daily, and wander through at His back ; it

William Gouger, etc. 153

may be, hard bestead, with a borrowed bed, and a borrowed fireside,
and Hve upon providence. We wot \i.e., know] well, there are some
of you that can say, to your sweet experience, that you never lived
better than on God's providence ; although now you have rejected and
betaken yourselves to the world. Have you done so ? Well, you may
be doing ; but ere long you will rue it. Remember we told you it,
when we were going into eternity, that you would meet with much
woe and sorrow, for what you have done against the honour of God,
if you repent not.

" 2. You say, It is not a Presbyterian principle to own that
party that is jeoparding their lives for the honour of God, and
witnessing for His despised truths, that this day is so abused, and
nicknamed by you and others.

" But we say. It is ; and maintain it to be a Presbyterian principle,
to own that despised party ; for they are the party that are only
designmg the glory and honour of God, and have no other view
before them but His sweet truths, which are dear to them ; and
they will quit with life and liberty, before they quit with an hoof
of truth, which has been made out by their valiant sufferings.
Oh ! but truth has been sweet and dear to them ! They have not
counted their lives dear unto them, on the account of it. They have
cheerfully gone to the scaffold for truth, and have been honourably
carried through, and the Lord's presence seen in their through-bear-
ing ; as we hope, shall be made out on us, ere it be long. Also,
they study to spend their time and strength for God. When all other
means have failed them, they study to keep up that mean of reading,
singing, and praying, as the Lord will assist and help them: although
the Indulged and their comforts have a great envy at them, and do
what they can to get them off the earth. For they are the main
actors in taking of that poor party. And all is, because their prac-
tices condemn theirs ; although they take the Scripture for their rule,
and study to walk so as they may get God's approbation in the day
of accompts [/>., accounts].

"3. You say, It is not a Presbyterian principle to own these
papers, that our worthies have set out, or the work that they have
done, which many of them have sealed with their blood.

" But we say that it is a Presbyterian principle; because all that they
did was agreeable to the Word of God, and our Covenants. For, con-
sider these papers when you please, you will find them consonant to
the Scriptures, and just and lawful for Presbyterians to own. And,

154 ^^ Cloud of Witnesses.

say the contrary who will, we do not think them Presbyterians, nor yet
Covenanters, that will not own them ; for there is nothing in them,
but what we will with all our hearts seal with our blood as Presby-
terians, and as having these principles.

" 4. You say, It is not a Presbyterian principle, to confess all
these things.

" But we say it is a Presbyterian principle to confess and avouch
Him and His truths, before this adulterous generation. Now,
when the quarrel is thus stated, we should not put them to prove
what is truth. Stephen made a free confession of his faith, and
so have all our worthies. And now, seeing we own these things, and
they being the controverted truths of the day, and the Lord calling
us to own and maintain them, we never thought it our part to
smother and hide them, but with courage to avouch them, to the
losing of our lives in the quarrel ; we seeing our dearest Lord's
truths so trampled on, and a pack of you that seemed to be fair
before the wind for owning of truth, and mtnessing for Him, never
so much as putting to your -hand to help, but turning your back on
truth and the way of God. Indeed, we fear, that ye shall never be
honoured to witness for God any more. It is like you care not for
that honour. But we tell you that you will rue it, when you will not
get it mended. And remember, we tell you here, as dying witnesses
for truth, you will meet with as sad a judgment as ever a shire met
with, if you repent not; your judgment will be unparallelable for your
denying Him before men.

"We are come here this day to witness freely and faithfully
against you and all others, for their complying with the enemies
against the work of God. And we say, as in the sight of a living
God, you will count for it ere it be long. Oh ! but we think it a
sweet thing to be honoured this day to contend for truth, and to be
overcomers by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testi-
mony. Indeed, we are called to it, to contend for the faith once
delivered to the saints. And we think, if we had not been free and
faithful before these bloody wretches, we would have held our life no
more of God, if we did not speak for His truths before them, when
He bade us speak ; for He sought a proof of our love to Him, and
His nick-named, despised way, and to poor Zion, whom no man is
seeking after.

" And think you that we durst hold our tongue and not speak
when He bade us ? Indeed, our life was not dear to us when His

William Gouger, etc. 155

truth came in question. We might have gone away with our Ufe, and
the broad curse of God upon it to go with us ; if we had denied Him
at this time, we would have held our lives no more of Him, of whom
we held it all our days ; and now we might cheerfully lay it down at
His command and bidding : for this we knew, that devils or men
could not stir a hair of our head, without our Lord's determination,
and therefore we are the less afraid of what they could do.

" And now, as dying men, we charge you not to speak of that
poor party, that this day is so reproached and spoken against by a
party of them that are called ministers and professors. Oh ! take
shame to you altogether ; and as you will be answerable in the day
of accounts, we tell you not to have a wrong thought of them, for all
the reproaches that can be said against them ; for they are a godly
people, and have much of His mind.

" And if you go on with enemies and others that have turned
their backs on the way of God, go your ways ; but it were better
that a millstone were hanged about your neck, and ye cast into the
midst of the sea, than that ye should speak at such a rate as ye do ;
for let you and others reproach as ye will, they design nothing but
the honour of God, and have the Scripture to be their rule, and walk
as becomes the Gospel ; and they study a holy carriage.

" Although there be many among them that have an unsuitable
carriage, by reason of whom the way of God is evil spoken of ; yet
the way of God is not an hair the worse to be liked. It may be
there is a Judas among the twelve ; and what of that ? We say
the rest are not to be cast at \i.e., objected to] for all that, seeing
they keep the truth. We know there are many of you who say that
we do not keep by the Scriptures. But we declare the contrary, for
with all our heart we set to our seal and testimony to the holy Scrip-
tures, which have been sweet to us ; and our testimony to the National
and Solemn League and Covenant, and to the Confession of Faith,
as agreeable to the word of God ; and to the Catechisms, Larger and
Shorter, and to all that our worthies have done in the defence of the
Gospel. We join our hearty testimony to all their appearances in the
fields, both first and last.

" And we protest against all the actings of the enemies against the
Lord's people in all their proceedings, both first and last, and every-
thing that they have done against our worthies, when they were in
defence of the Gospel ; and we abhor and testify against Popery,
Prelacy, Quakerism, Erastianism, Indulgency, and all the connivers

156 A Cloud oj Witnesses.

with them, be who they will ; and against Jesuitish principles, which
you say we hold, which sect we most basely abhor, and give our tes-
timony against all such erroneous sects and principles. We give our
testimony against all you that say we have such principles, and that
we have got new principles and new light. But we do say the con-
trary ; and declare that we do hold by these principles which ministers
did teach both you and us to stand to in the defence of, until we had
lost our lives and all in that quarrel.

" Now, you that say such things of us, we exhort you to repent,
or else you ^vill meet with a sore day of wrath ; for it is not a light
thing to speak of sufferers, as you do. Therefore, we obtest you in
the bowels of Jesus Christ, to be sober in your speeches against that
party, and make a right choice, and fairly side yourselves, and come
out from among the tents of the wicked, and be separated from
among them, and join yourselves to the poor suffering remnant, and
be not at ease now in the day of Zion's trouble. Do not think that
you will enjoy your ceiled houses, and your warm firesides, in such
a day as this. If you be single for God, He will have you out from
all these things, and denied to them all ; for woe to him that is at ease
when Zion is in trouble, and is not concerned in all the afflictions of
Joseph ! You must either now get a wakening, or else you will get a
wakening when the wrath of an angry God comes on the land for sin.

" Indeed, sirs, we think that religion has not cost you much heart
work. We think you have not been at much pains in seeking of
God, for as fair a show as ye seem to have. Indeed, when the
Gospel was in its purity, and many seeking to preachings, the Lord
seemed to be kind to you, and you seemed to have much love to
Him and His despised way, and you seemed as if you would have
ventured your life in the defence of the Gospel. But when we would
have looked through you at preachings, and going to them, and in
coming from them, it would have made some of us a sore heart to see
your unconcernedness and unsuitable carriage, even among you that
seemed to be the heads of them. And when we would have been in
some of your companies, either coming or going, your talk did aye [/.<?.,
always] smell of the world, and so is come of it. Oh I repent and
come out from among your lusts and idols that you are so wedded to,
and take hold of a Mediator and seek the Lord with all your heart.

" Oh ! you town of Stirling and the shire, repent ; for sentence is
passed against you for what you have done, although it be not put in
execution yet. But it will be put in execution ere long, if you repent

William Gonger, etc. 157

not, though the Lord is seeing it fit to take us away from the evils
which are coming on this land, for breach of Covenant and a slighted
Gospel. We tell you, it may be you will find it when we are gone ;
it is better to endure all the torments that devils and men can inflict
on you here, than to endure one drop of the wrath of an angry God, that
will be poured out without mixture on all ranks that have not the work
of the day upon their spirits, be who they will, ministers or professors,
indulged or not indulged \ for, if they be not taken up and concerned
with the case of the Church of God this day, as it is stated. He will
come and reckon with them all, and count them all turners aside,
and will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, when peace
shall be on Israel. Therefore, we would desire you to have a care,
and look well about you what you are doing, and beware of speaking
against that party.

" There are some of you that say, they are of bloody principles.
You should beware of speaking these things, for the contrary is known
that they are not murderers, nor have any such intentions, as some of
yourselves know, although you be speaking the contrary ; for you
never heard of their killing any, except it was in the defence of the
Gospel, and their own defence.

" Likewise you say that we are cursers and criers for vengeance
on the land. Now we must not stay to argue this out, we being this
day to lay down our lives j but we think any that has tender love to
the Son of God, and His cause, cannot but be grieved to see ministers
and professors so avowedly betray the truth that is sweet and dear to
us ; yea, dearer than our lives. And, when we think on what you have
done to the sweet truths of God, we cannot but pray against your
courses. As for anything ye can do to us, we heartily forgive you.
But the wrongs you have done to a holy God, we cannot get them
borne, for they are weighty to us. If it were our enemies, we would
bear with it ; but when it comes from the like of you, we cannot get
it borne.

" Truly, sirs, we think ye will embrace Popery ere it be long.
Your entertaining of that excommunicate Duke of York, a professed
Papist, says that you would do more yet. There was not one of
you all in town or shire that moved your tongue against him ; but, as
if you had all been professed Papists, you let him come in among
you, and kindly entertained him. We leave our testimony against
your so doing.

[In the preceding month — the beginning of February 168 1 — the

158 A C/o2cd 0/ Witnesses.

Duke of York visited Linlithgow and Stirling, and was " entertained
in the best manner the country could afford." — Ed.]

" But we break off, having no more time ; and request you to take
these things to your consideration, and lay sin to heart, and mourn
bitterly before the Lord for what you have done. We here obtest
you to come off these ways of yours, and make conscience of duty,
as in the sight of a holy God, before whom ye must shortly appear.
Slight not time, for it is precious. Wrath is at the door. Oh ! make
haste, and lay these things to heart, and study to have a more tender
respect to the honour of God. We desire to leave it on you now,
when we are going into eternity, that you would mind your engage-
ments and vows to God. And so we bid you farewell, and bid you
mind the poor groaning Kirk that we are to leave behind us, which
was dear to us.

" Now we bid farewell to poor desolate Zion, and pray the Lord
may mind her case. Farewell all things in time, and welcome
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

" Subscribed at the Iron House, a little before we went out to the
scaffold, March 11, 1681.

"WILLIAM GOUGER.
"CHRISTOPHER MILLER.
" ROBERT SANGSTER."

T is remarkable that this martyr, William Gouger, had a little
paper in his Bible, which he minded to throw over the scaf-
fold ; but when he was taken into the Council House \v\i\\
the other two, it was someway got by the murderers, who, having
read it, commanded the executioner to tie him straighter nor [i.e., than]
ordinary, so that he could scarce go up the ladder ; and aftenvards
they stopped him from praying.

When he was upon the ladder, he began to speak, and said : " I
am come here for owning Christ to be head and king in Zion."
■Whereupon they caused beat the drums, seeking to damp and astonish
him, that they might trample upon his conscience ; and when they
offered him his life upon condition he would own the king, he replied,
" I will o^vn none but Christ to be king in Zion." Then they said,
" Will ye not retract anything, sir?" He answered, " No, no; I own
all ; I adhere to all." Upon which they immediately called to the
executioner to throw him over, which he did incontinent [i.e., imme-
diately], not allowing him to recommend his spirit to the Lord.

Laurence Hay,

159

There are extant particular testimonies of these three martyrs ;
but, because it is doubted that they may not be genuine, but vitiated
by John Gib, or some of these that were tainted with his errors,
therefore they are here omitted. And moreover, whereas some are
suspicious that these three martyrs themselves, or at least the two
last, were in some danger from the errors of John Gib, yet in regard
that it was not upon any such account they suffered, but for testifying
against the Ecclesiastical Supremacy, they ought to be recorded
among the rest, as dying witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Laurence Hay.

AURENCE HAY and Andrew Pittilloch, whose testimonies
immediately follow, and an Adam Philip, " three country
people in Fife," were brought before the Justiciary Court,
July nth, 1 68 1. The three were members of a society in Fife for
prayer and pious conference. The society had, in the preceding
month of June, agreed to a paper entitled " a Testimony against the
Evils of the Times." This paper, which seems to have testified against
the king as false to his Covenant engagements, was produced at their
trial, and is referred to in their testimonies. They were found guilty
of treason, and sentenced to be hanged at the Grassmarket upon the
13th July, and " their heads to be severed from their body and affixed
to the tolbooth of Cupar." Wodrow, valuable as his history otherwise
is, had no liking to Cargill and his followers. Hence he says, " their
paper is very wild, and seems to smell of Gib and his delusions." It
will be seen, however, that both Hay and Pittilloch expressly condemn
the principles of Gib. Crookshanks justly says their testimonies
"breathe a spirit of true piety." — Ed.]

1 60 A Cloud of Witnesses.

HE DYING TESTIMONY of Laurence Hay, Weaver,
who lived in Fife, and suffered at Edinburgh, July 13,
1681.

" Men and Brethren, — Having by serious con-
sideration, joined in giving a testimony against the
enemies of God, and all that have joined with them in
anything which has tended to the overthrow of the work
of Reformation ; for which I am come in your sight to lay down this
life of mine, which I engaged to do in that testimony, through His
strength, if He called me to it ; because it was according to the word
of God and the Covenanted Reformation ; and seeing I engaged
in the strength of the Lord to seal it with my blood (and now He
in His holy and wise providence has put me to seal it ; although I
be the fecklessest [/>., feeblest], and unworthiest of all that society),
I here in your presence, with all my heart, set to my seal to it with
my blood, as was promised at the end of the paper. And if all the
hairs of my head were men having lives, I would think them all little
enough, to seal the cause of my dearest and sweetest Lord Jesus, who
has been sweet and kind to me, in carrying me through every step
of the work, which He put in my hand.

" Oh ! love Him, sirs ! Oh \ but He is worth the loving ! Oh 1
but He has been kind to me, since I was apprehended ! for He
told me then that Satan would cast some in prison, that they might
be tried : and He bade me be faithful to the death ; and He pro-
mised me a crown of life ; and He hath helped me since to fulfil
the conditions, and hath also given me a right to the promise.
And this was all my desire ; that the trial of my faith might be
found precious to the praise of His sweet name ; that His cause
might not be wronged, nor His ark get a wrong touch by me :
and herein He hath heard my desire, according to that Scripture,
' He will hear the desire of the humble, and the expectation of the
poor shall not be lost.' For He keeps covenant with thousands of
ihem that love Him, and keep His commandments ; and ' His
commandments are not grievous ' ; but ' His yoke is easy, and His
burden light.' And He has said, * He that forsaketh wife, or children,
houses or lands for My name's sake, and the Gospel's, shall receive

Laurence Hay. i6i

in this life an hundredfold, and in the world to come life everlasting ;'
and, ' He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy
of Me.'

" Therefore, dear friends, give not over to contend for His bome-
dovvn truths, that this day are in debate betwixt Him and His
enemies in Covenanted Scotland ; according to the Scripture, * Con-
tend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.' Oh ! contend,
contend, and give not over ; for He will arise for the oppression of
the poor and for the sighings of the needy ; for He will have an
opportunity to be about with \i.e., avenged on] all His enemies, and
He is weary with forbearing. Therefore, trust in the Lord ; trust in
Him at all times ; for they that trust in Him shall not be ashamed ;
for they shall stand in the gate unashamed to speak unto their
foes.

" Oh ! sirs, give Him much credit ; for He hath disappointed me
of my fears — in that wherein I feared — appearing before men ; and
helped me to stand before them ; so that I had no terror, nor amaze-
ment more than they had been the meanest of creatures. Although
I cannot say that ' I have fought the good fight,' as that eminent
Apostle said, yet I can say, praised be God, He hath given me the
victory through Jesus Christ my Lord, over principalities, and hath
confirmed to me, that neither death, nor life, nor any creature shall
separate me from the love of my sweet Lord Jesus Christ, who is
'ove-worthy, praise-worthy, worthy to be feared and honoured ; who,
in His absolute sovereignty, set apart poor me, to give a testimony
for His glorious and honourable work of reformation, who am less
than the least of all saints. But He is an absolute Lord, and
shows mercy to whom He will show mercy, and whom He will He
hardeneth : and He keeps the souls of the faithful, and plentifully
rewards the proud doer.

" Therefore, I am called to suffer this day, in this place, for the
following of my duty ; and for that in particular, in giving a testimony
against the dreadful defections of these times, by the means of these
backsliding ministers, who have left our sweet Lord Jesus, with His
back at the wall, and His poor flock scattered upon the mountains,
as sheep having no shepherd. But, dear friends, comfort yourselves
in this, that in His own time, He will search His sheep and find
them out ; although, alas ! I fear lest they shall be sorer scattered
than yet they are. But wait on Him ; for He that shall come, will
come, and will not tarr)'. And His reward is with Him, and His

1 62 A Cloud of Wihiesses.

work is before Him. And the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly
come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant.

" But oh ! dear friends, labour to be steadfast and unmovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, x^nd give all diligence
to make your calling and election sure ; for if you do these things,
you shall never fall. And commit the keeping of your souls to Him
in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator ; for He is able to keep that
which is committed to Him against that day, and to present it
spotless before the Father. Although, alas ! I was loath to adventure
or to credit in His hand ; but now He hath disco vered to me that He
is the best hand that I can venture on, and has gained my consent,
and has become the surety for me of a better covenant, well ordered
in all things and sure.

"Therefore, considering my engagements unto Him, I leave my
testimony to the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and
the version of the Psalms in metre, and to the work of Reformation,
Covenants, National and Solemn League, the Solemn Acknowledg-
ment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Causes of God's Wrath,
the Confession of Faith, as being conform to the Scriptures, and the
Catechisms Larger and Shorter. I give my adherence to all the
faithful testimonies given by the worthies, to the maintenance of the
work of Reformation, from the year 1660, until this day, either by their
appearances in the fields, or on scaffolds, or in the seas. I adhere
to the Sanquhar Declaration, and the Torwood Excommunication, and
the papers found at the Queensferry, and to that joint testimony given
in the shire of Fife by that society whereof I was a member (though
a worthless one), and I adhere to all things contained therein, be-
cause they are according to the Scriptures. And I give my testi-
mony to the faithful preachings in the fields, and to the keeping up of
societies and Christian fellowships commanded in the word of God ;
* Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner
of some is, and so much the more as you see the day approaching;'
especially now when His glory is at the stake, which is of more worth
than our souls : and when men are seeking to get His work razed and
the name of Israel blotted out, that it may be no more in remem-
brance.

" Likewise I leave my testimony against all these who have joined
with the declared enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ, both ministers
and professors ; and against all these who maintain any principle
contrary to the Word of God ; especially these who deny the authority

Lmirence Hay. 163

of the Scriptures, and all the work of reformation, and have razed the
fundamentals of true Christianity ; some of whom the Lord has given
up to strong delusions, to believe lies, and deny Jesus Christ to be
the Son of God, and maintain new lights, in meddling with the de-
crees of God, which His word never approved ; and against every
one of their principles.

" Likewise, I leave my testimony against all who brand us with an
implicit faith ; which one declared to myself in my hearing, in the
room below where I was prisoner ; which I questioned, if he durst
in conscience say, that I lived by an implicit faith, or the example
of others. So he said, that there were some in the room with me,
that had been murderers of others who had suffered. And I told
him, that the 15th Psalm reached him a very sad reproof, for speak-
ing evil against his neighbour ; and also I said, ' We speak what
we do know, and testify what we have heard.' And I declared, that
I had seen no such thing of any that was in the room with me ; but
you have wronged, said I, God and His cause, by shifting His cross,
and therefore you will not stand [/.<?., hesitate] to wrong your neigh-
bour.

" And as for our being branded that we hold our principles of men,
and are dying to please men ; I altogether abhor such aspersions, for
I hold my principles of none, but of God and His word ; and that
which carries the sway with me is the controverted truths of Jesus
Christ, that are this day in debate, betwixt Him and His enemies ;
especially His kingly office, on which I dare venture life and liberty,
and my salvation also, because the Father hath declared Him to be
king on His holy hill of Zion, by an unalterable decree ; and there
to reign till all His enemies be brought under His feet. Therefore
as I have left my testimony against all who cast such aspersions on
me, or any other who have suffered in this manner, I leave my blood
also to witness against them, who will adventure to do it, whether
enemies or pretended friends.

" Likewise I leave my testimony against the encroachments made
upon the rights of our Lord Jesus Christ and the privileges of His
Church, by that usurper Charles Stuart, and all the bloody crew
under him. Likewise I leave my testimony against that excom-
municate traitor, the Duke of Monmouth, for his appearance against
the work of God and His people, joined for the defence of the
Gospel and interest of Jesus Christ, and all that joined with him.
Likewise, I leave my testimony against that avowed Papist York.

164 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Also, I leave my testimony against that designed Parliament to put
power in his hand. Also, I leave my testimony against these abomin-
able wretches that sat in these associations, and falsely accused and
sentenced me to death ; and against these fifteen assizers, who gave
me my sentence, and against that wretch called the Clerk, and
Andrew Cunningham who gave me my doom.

" Likewise 1 leave my testimony against all who have joined with
the declared enemies, whether ministers or professors, especially in
the shire of Fife, who have delivered up the testimony to these
abominable wretches ; particularly Balgrumma and Vederstar.

" Likewise I leave my testimony against Popery, Prelacy, and that
woeful Erastian Supremacy, and Indulgences first and last, which have
been the dagger, the helve whereof hath gone in after the blade, and
hath wounded the Church in the innermost part of the belly, and the
dart that hath stricken her through the liver. Oh ! how sharp are
the wounds of a friend ! They go down to the innermost parts of the
belly. If it had been an enemy, I would have borne it. And it is
evidently seen, that our mother Church hath been, and is this day,
wounded in the house of her friends ; for which the Lord will sadly
reckon with all such as have done so, if they do not repent and mourn
for it.

" Likewise I leave my testimony against all them that are any way
instrumental in bearing down our poor mother-church, either by
appearance in arms, or furnishing of others for that effect ; by paying
of cess or militia-money ; or any other way homologating the acts, or
strengthening the hands, of her declared and avowed enemies.

" Now, dear friends, being straitened for want of time, I am forced
to draw to a close ; only desiring you to be earnest in contending for
the broken-down work of Reformation, that this day is brought very
low. But be not discouraged, although His ark be tossed this day
upon the waters, and the poor ship in the midst of the sea, and the
poor disciples afraid lest they should sink, and the Master asleep, as
it were upon a pillow ; yet go to Him and cry, Master, Master, save
us, else we perish ; for He is easy to be entreated, and He likes
well to have Plis poor people coming to Him, in the time of their
distress ; for He is a present help in time of need, a God rich in
mercy, and near to all that call upon Him in truth,

" Bat, oh dear friends I beware of backdrawing, for He hath said.
If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. And
he that ]Kitteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, is not fit

Laiwencc Hay. 165

for the kingdom of heaven ; but he that endureth to the end, the
same shall be saved. Be not ashamed of Him, for if any man be
ashamed of Him, or His words, of him also will He be ashamed
before the Father and the holy angels. Oh ! dear friends, the more
that you see a perverse generation crying Him down, be ye the more
at that work of crying Him up ; for He is well worth the commenda-
tion of all that can commend Him. Oh ! dear friends, in all things
let Him have the pre-eminence, and count all things loss and clung
that ye may win Christ ; and press forwards towards the mark, for the
prize of the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus ; looking unto
Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith \ who for the joy that
was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Strive to enter in
at the strait gate ; for many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be
able.

" Now, friends, beware of sinning and beware of snares ; for they
are at this day very thick and many ; but our God has promised that
He will not suffer His poor people to be tempted above what they
are able, but will, with the temptation, make a way that they may
escape.

" So I bid you all farewell ; desiring you to be kind to my wife
and children when I am gone. Farewell sweet Bible, by His blessing.
Farewell sun moon and stars; farewell nieat and drink; farewell all
created comforts and enjoyments, wherewith I have been abundantly
supplied. Farewell, my dear wife and children ; the I>ord be better
to you than ten husbands, when I am gone. Farewell mother,
brethren and sisters. Farewell sweet societies, and preached Gospel,
whereby I have been begotten by the seed of the Word. Farewell
sweet prison, and reproaches for sweet Christ, and His cause. And
welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! Welcome everlasting life,
and the spirits of just men made perfect ! Lord, into thy hands I
commit my spirit !

"At the Iron-house, July 13, 1681.

"LAURENCE HAY."

Andrew Pittilloch.

HE TESTIMONY of Andrew Pittilloch, Land
Labourer in the parish of Largo, in Fife, who suffered
at the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, July 13, 1681.

" Men and Brethren, — Wherefore are you come
here this day ? Will you tell me, if that be your inten-
tion, to be edified by the words of a poor thing, wit-
nessing for my lovely Lord Jesus Christ? And if that
be your intention in you coming hither, it is well. Now, when I am
going off time, to bid farewell to you all, Oh ! that I could commend
my lovely Lord Jesus and His sweet cross to you.

" Oh ! sirs, will you come, taste and see that the Lord is good.
You will never do better, nor [i.e., than] come and see ; for since the
Lord honoured me to be his prisoner, He has letten me know
nothing but love ; He has made my prison no prison. Oh ! sirs, all
His ways are ways of pleasantness, and His paths peace. And His
cross is sweet and easy ; although worthless, I cannot commend it to
you. But oh ! sirs, scar [i.e., start] not at the sweet cross of royal
and sweet Jesus, but contend for Him and His noble cause, for I
can assure you, I had never such a sweet life as I have had since
He brought me to the like of this trial. Oh ! sweet indictment !
Oh ! sweet sentence for my lovely Lord ! Oh ! sweet scaffold for
contending for the cause, Covenant, and work of Reformation !
Oh '. sirs, quit all for holy Jesus, for I can promise you, that you
will never die better than for contending for King Christ. Indeed,
sirs, ministers and professors, as they call them, say that we are
dying as fools and giddy-headed professors ; but glory to His holy
and sweet name, that has made it out to my soul that it is other-
wise. And now that my conscience doth not condemn me, how
dare any mortal creature condemn me ?

" Oh ! friends, what is the reason that you will not take Him,
who is the chief among ten thousands, who is altogether lovely, and

Andrew Pittilloch. 167

without compare ? There is no spot in Him. Oh ! prefer Him to
your chief joy! There are many of you who have preferred other
things to Him. Oh ! fear and tremble, for wrath will be upon you
very suddenly ! Oh ! be afraid, for our Lord hath said, if ye will
not quit all for Him, ye cannot be His disciples ; and so you have
neither part nor lot in our sweet Lord. You may read the tenth of
Matthew from the i6th verse to the end. Oh ! sirs, go not with the
Indulged, nor yet side with them ; cleave to the Lord with all your
heart, and be not put off with anything but Himself. Oh ! He is
sweet to be with. Oh ! His way is sweet to keep ; but I cannot
commend Him to you ; His sweetness is without compare. Oh !
take Him, and be restless till ye get Him to your mother's house,
and to the chamber of her that bare you.

" Pray much for your mother-church, that ministers and others
have wronged ; I witness and testify against them for their unrigh-
teousness, both first and last :

" I. For leaving of their kirks, without a public testimony against
enemies, at the incoming of Prelacy.

" 2. For their conniving at one another's sins.

*' 3. For their leaving the fields, when there was so much need of
preaching to poor things ; when wrath and judgment were coming on
the land, they did not set the trumpet to their mouth, and give the
people a faithful warning. They say, we have cast them off, but
they are mistaken, for they have cast themselves off, by changing
their head. And the Scriptures have cast them off, and I cannot
join with them. I would with all my heart have a ministry ; but I
would have it according to the word of God ; men that will preach
in season and out of season, whether people will hear, or whether
they will forbear ; that will be faithful in preaching against sin of all
sorts, and will hide nothing of the mind of the Lord ; but they do
play fast and loose in the matters of a holy God, and will not witness
against enemies. I own none of these, but I leave my testimony
against them for their unfaithfulness. They will preach to poor
things to stand for God and His truths, and not yield a hair for the
saving of their lives ; and yet they yield and comply themselves :
and when they come before enemies, never a word of testimony
before them, but pass the sworn Covenant and Work of Reformation
in silence, and, for fear of their lives, will not hit them on the sore.
Indeed, they will wale \i.e., choose] their words, so as they may not
give their enemies offence.

i68 A Clotid of Witnesses.

" You condemn us because we do that, which once a day you
would have accounted your honour to do, and say that we are all
distracted, and have distracted notions in our heads ! And say
you so? Wilt thou tell me, man, if thou thinkest that a distracted
notion, to confess the Covenant and Work of Reformation ? But
you will say, it is not for that which I lay down my life, but for the
subscribing of that paper ; and I do think it well worth the sealing
with my blood. And will you tell me what could we do less ? You
ran away and left the work, and the enemies were carrying all be-
fore them ; and we durst not but leave testimony against them. My
heart was like to bleed when I saw enemies carry the day, and
robbing the Lord of His rights, His crown, and kingdom, and not
so much as one to move their tongue against them, and say, that it
is ill done that they have done. I leave it to God and your own
conscience, whether or not it be duty to contend for truth this day,
when it was so much neglected.

" I leave my testimony against you and yoiu- hearers, and the
joiners with you, ay, and while \_i.e.^ until] they repent. I bid you
repent and come off, and witness for the Lord, and if ye will not
do it, as sure as God is in heaven, He will be about with [i.e., avenge
Himself on] you ; escape who will, ye will not escape ; for it is like
He will begin at the sanctuary. Take warning in time. I leave it
on you now, when I am going into eternity ; for I am persuaded this
is the way to the kingdom of heaven ; for the Lord hath confirmed
it to my soul, and hath made my life a sweet life to me. Oh 1 read
the 41st of Isaiah, for it was sweet to me when I was taken. And
oh ! that I had as many lives to lay do\vn for Him, as there are hairs
on my head ; I would think them all too little ! Oh ! what is my
life ? Nothing in comparison of His glory. Oh ! woe to you idle
shepherds, for ye deceive poor things ; if it were possible, I think
you would deceive the very elect. You take God to be your wit-
ness, that you are in His way yet, and have not quit one hoof.

" But your practice condemns you, and the word of God con-
demns you. You may read Malachi ii. i, 2, 3 : ' And now, oh ! ye
priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye
will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord of
Hosts, I will even send a curse on you, and I will curse your bless-
ings ; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to
heart : Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your
faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts ; and one shall take you

Andrew Piitilloch. 169

away with it :' the 7th of Matthew 15, 16: ' Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheeps' clothing, but inwardly are ravening
wolves : Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
of thorns, or figs of thistles?' And that 34th of Ezekiel, second
verse, ' Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, pro-
phesy, and say unto them, I'hus saith the Lord God unto the shep-
herds ; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves —
shall not the shepherds feed the flocks?'

" I leave my testimony against them that say, we hold our prin-
ciples of men, and that we die for pleasing men. But it is not so ;
for I never thought that little of my life, as to lay it down for the pleas-
ing of any ; so it is but a most base aspersion of some cast on us,
because our practice condemns theirs, and they can get no other thing
to brand us with but that. And glory to the Lord, the contrary is
seen both by our practices and our through-bearing : and it is made
out, that we hold our principles of none, but of God and His word.

" I leave my testimony against the four men in the Canongate
Tolbooth [/>., Gib and his three associates then in prison. See
Cargill's letter to them, p. 19. — Ed.] or any other that join with them
for wronging of the holy and sweet Scriptures. Some brand me
with that, that I am of their judgment, which thing I exceedingly
abhor and detest as the mire in the streets, and I count them guilty
of death for wronging of the Scriptures. If we had judges in the
land that were for God, they should not live.

" I leave my testimony against that tyrant on the throne and all
his underlings ; and I say it will never be right with our land till
Haman and his ten sons be hung up before the sun.

" I leave my testimony against them that rule as judges, and I
leave my blood on the assizers, dempster [/.(?., doomster], soldiers,
and all of them, and all that acknowledge or aid them as magistrates,
ay, and while [z>., until] they repent.

" I leave my testimony against all enemies of all sorts, and against
all sorts of compliance in less or more, and against all that has been
done against the work of God these twenty years bygone ; against
the Test, and compliance with, or compearing before God's enemies
in less or more.

" I leave my testimony against the ministers and professors in Fife,
for the Avrongs they have done to my lovely Lord and His sweet cause ;
and my head shall be a standing witness against them, and preach to
them from Cupar Tolbooth, ay, and while {i.e., until] they repent.

1 70 A Cloud of Witnesses.

As for anything that they have done to me, I freely forgive them, and
pray that the Lord may forgive them.

" I leave my testimony against all them that will not hear Mr
Donald Cargill, and own him as a faithful minister of the Gospel ; and
none but he is faithful this day.

" I leave my testimony to the holy and sweet Scriptures, which
many a day I have been refreshed with. I bless the Lord that ever I
could read a line of them. Now I adhere to the faithfully-preached
Gospel and to all that our worthies have done, which I need not
particularly mention here.

" A.nd you that are the people of the Lord, oh ! be busy and im-
prove your time, and make use of your Bibles while you have them,
for it is like there may be a bonfire made of them yet, as well as of
the Covenant. And covenant with Him, and contend for Him to the
utmost of your power ; for I have found more of His sweet love in
contending for Him than ever I got in prayer or hearing the word.
Oh ! His sweet word ; let it not slip through your fingers.

" It is like ye will have sad days of it when I am gone. Popery is
begun, and it is like to overspread the whole land, and there is none
to move their tongue against it, although the land be sworn in solemn
oath against it. Oh ! sirs, lift up your voice for the remnant that is
left. Fast and pray ; cry and weep \ let not the apple of your eye
cease ; the wrath is like to be great that will overtake us ; Oh ! cry
that the days may be shortened for the elect's sake, lest no flesh
should be saved.

" Oh I look out for sad days, dear friends ; it may be ye will get
the saddest stroke that ever a poor land was trysted [/>., visited] with.
Ye may read through the Scriptures, and ye will find what judgments
followed such sins ; pestilence, sword, and famine ; which ye ma)- look
for. I leave it on you, that ye be not slack-handed, for it may come
to that, that the tender and delicate women may eat their own
children for straitness in the siege. It is to be feared that the
plagues that are coming on Scotland for a broken and burnt Covenant
will make their ears to tingle that hear of them. But I will not be to
see it ; the Lord is taking me away from the evil to come, which
was often my desire ; for the sad heart that ministers and professors
have made me with their complying and wronging His glor)', made
me oft wish to be away.

" And now it does not trouble me to lay down my life in your pre-
sence this day. Oh ! it is sweet to be a sufferer for truth ! I wonder

A ndrew Pittilloch. 1 7 1

what doth ail the generation, to scar at [/.(?., fear] Him or His sweet
cross ; for there is no cause of rueing or wearying, for all that is come.
There is a beauty in holiness. Oh ! commend Him, sirs ! Oh !
bless and praise Him that ever He honoured such a wretch as I am
to be a martyr for His sweet truth ! Oh ! sweet honour He puts on
poor things ! Oh ! sirs, cast in your lot with the suffering remnant
that this day is in the furnace. Sink or swim with His Church. Oh !
prefer Jerusalem to your chief joy !

" But oh ! be persuaded to come and taste of His goodness ;
this is the way, although the whole world should condemn it. It
will not be the learned clergy, or great heads of wit, that He will
honour with carrying on of His work ; for they have all denied Him.
There are none of the ministers that will witness for Him, nor yet
any that the Lord has bestowed great parts on ; their wit leads them
bye the cross and beyond suffering. They will not suffer if petitioning
will do it ; or hiring of advocates or learned speakers. They can put
in petitions, and say they never intended the death of any man but in
the defence of their life ; but never a word of the defence of the
Gospel, the work of Reformation, or the sworn Covenant. Nay, if
they had done that, their life would go ; but they were bound by
Covenant to own and maintain religion against Popery, and Prelacy,
Quakerism, Indulgence, and whatsoever else is contrary to sound
doctrine, with their lives in their hands, and to quit with all for the
faith once delivered to the saints. And though they never mention
a word of all this, yet they will say they came clearly oft"; but I say
now, when I am going into eternity, that God's wrath will be on such
a liberty, and God will count with them for what they have done
against His honour ; for there can none come clearly out from
among their hands that is once before them without wronging His
glory. Oh ! fear and tremble, sirs ; you that get the favour of
God's enemies, and yield your conscience to the lusts of men.

" I leave it on all persons, now when I am to appear before my
Judge, that they do nothing but what is according to the holy and
sweet Scriptures. Take them to be your rule, and go no further than
they allow you ; they do not bid you to petition enemies for your
liberty, nor yet to hire advocates.

" Now, my advice to you that are taken prisoners is, timt you
seek no favour of God's enemies. Black not paper with them, in
good, cheap, nor dear. Stand for your sweet Lord, with your life in
your hand. Own and avouch Him to be King and head of His

172

A Cloud of Witnesses.

own church. Count not your Ufe dear unto you, when it comes in
competition with truth.

" And now, as for you that are the poor seekers of the Lord ; oh !
act faith on Him ; give Him much credit ; live as brethren, dwell in
unity, let peace and truth be among you. But, good Lord, let never
peace be without truth ! Keep up fellowship and society-meetings ;
for my soul hath been oft refreshed in the fellowship of the saints. Oh !
stand for your despised Lord, and His wronged glory.

" Now I being straitened for want of time (it being short), I for-
bear, and bid you be strong in the Lord, and the power of His
might. Now, farewell my dear friends. Farewell holy and sweet
Scriptures. Farewell sun, moon, and stars. Farewell sweet re-
proaches and crosses for my sweet Lord Jesus. Farewell all things
in time ; reading, praying, and all duties. Farewell relations. Fare-
well my dear wife ; the I^ord be to you better than ten husbands.
Glory be to His great name, that made me so sweetly to submit to
His will, whatever He trysted [/..?., visited] me with. Farewell mother
and sisters, and all relations. Farewell all my Christian acquaintances
for a while. Farewell sweet society in Fife ; the Lord's blessing be
on you all. And now, welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Welcome sweet company of angels, and the spirits of just men
made perfect. Welcome everlasting songs of praise. Now into thy
hands, holy Father, I commit my spirit.

" Sic subscribitur,

" ANDREW PITTILLOCH."

William Thomson.

'ILLL\M THOMSON was a servant in Frosk in Fifeshire.
LTp till 1679 he had taken no interest in religious matters,
but the preparations made for defence of Gospel truth after
Drumclog excited his attention ; he joined the Covenanters, and was

William Thomson. i '^-i^

at the battle of Bothwell Bridge. He seems to have escaped, and to
have been unmolested till two years after the battle, when, on the last
Sabbath of June, he was seized at Alloa while coming from Fifeshire,
where he had been hearing Donald Cargill. He was examined on
the 1 2th of July, before the commitee for public affairs. Wodrow
gives the substance of his examination ; that he was at Bothwell ;
that he hath not taken the Bond ; that he assisted at the relief of two
prisoners in the town of Airth. As to Bothwell rising being rel)ellion,
the king's authority, and the archbishop's death, he refuses to answer.
Being asked if it was lawful to kill the officers of the army, he asked
at the committee if it was lawful for them to kill the people of God ?
adding that, if they pleased, they might lay the one to the other.
Being asked, if to save his life, he will say ' God save the king ; '
he answers, that he will not beg his life at so dear a rate as to commit
any sin.

He was tried on the 26th along with Donald Cargill, James Boig,
Walter Smith, and William Cuthill. His sentence was, that he be
hanged next day, July 27, 1681, and that his head be fixed on the
West Port. Nothing is now known of his end, save that he remained
faithful unto death. As might be expected from his position in life (a
servant), his testimony is not so well written as those of his fellow suf-
ferers, Cargill and Smith. It is that, however, of a pious. God-fearing
man, who had cast all his care upon Christ, and trusted Him for all
things. — Ed.]

HE TESTIMONY of William Thomson, who lived in
the shire of Fife, and suffered at Edinburgh, July 27,
1681.

" Men and Brethren,- — I being a prisoner for
Christ's sake, and for my adhering to truth, being taken
at Alloa, coming out of Fife, from hearing of the
Gospel preached by Mr Donald Cargill the last Sabbath
of June, this present year ; and not knowing when I may be taken
and murdered by the stated enemies of our Lord ; for tliey neither
walk after the equity of their own law nor God's law ; I have, for

1 74 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

fear of inconveniences, laid hold of this opportunity, to set down
under my hand, or from my mouth, an account of my life and con-
versation, and my testimony to the truth of Christ, and against all
the abominations of the times.

" I was before the year 1679 running away, with the rest of this
generation, to God-provoking courses, and about that time, when I
saw the people of God going to draw together to adventure their lives
in the Lord's quarrel, the Lord took a dealing with me at that time, so
that I could neither get night's rest, nor day's rest, till I resolved to go
with them ; and, on the other hand, was afraid lest I should have
been the Achan in the Lord's camp ; but again, I remembered the
Lord's promise, that is held out in the word, ' Turn ye unto me,
and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord ' (Mai. iii. 7). Now I
do with all my heart bless the Lord, for His wonderful workings
with me, since He began with me. I think, when I look on His
dealings since that time till now, I must say, that I am a brand
plucked out of the fire. Oh ! that my heart and soul could praise Him
for all that He hath done for me ! And now I am content to die a
dyvour {i.e., debtor] to free grace, and in Christ's debt.

" I was charged with being guilty of rebellion against their prince.
I answered, I was not so, for I was there a prisoner of Jesus Christ and
for His sake, and told them, I adhered to His covenant, and all things
in it. I am not convicted from the word of God of any crime as to
him whom they call king ; who is not my king ; nor of anything worthy
of death committed against any man, either in thought, word, or deed ;
so my blood shall cry, with the rest of the innocent blood shed in the
land, for vengeance from heaven on the inhabitants of the earth,
great or small, who are in the least accessory thereto, ay, and while
[/>., until] they repent.

"It is not my doing, but their own, that hath procured it; and
God is just to seek after them for the same ; neither is it in any
man's power to forgive that, as being a breach of God's holy law,
without repentance, nor then neither ; for the furthest they can come
is but to declare unto them from God's word, that this and their
other sins shall never be charged upon them, if they have truly
received Christ upon His own terms, and walked worthy of the Lord
unto all well-pleasing. But now the thing is clear ; the ground
whereon they intend to take away my life is, the disowning Charles
Stuart for my king, because he will have no homage upon the
account of the Covenant from me, or any other ; and God only

William Tho7nson. 175

requires the performing of vows, and keeping and fulfilling the Cove-
nants, Ps. 1. So in this case, I cannot serve two masters ; and I
resolve to obey God rather than man.

" Now, I here, as a dying man, ready to step into eternity, having
health and strength, and being in my right mind, declare :

" I adhere to the Protestant religion, as that which is God's true
religion, and the Christian religion.

" I adhere to the holy rule of the word of God, the Scriptures of
the Old and New Testament, containing the will of God to man, and
anent man ; and that the Scriptures are a full rule of faith and man-
ners to us.

" I adhere to the work of Reformation in Scotland, to the Cove-
nants, National and Solemn League, the Solemn Acknowledgment of
Sins and Engagement to Duties ; the Confession of Faith, in regard it
agrees with the foresaid writings ; the Larger and Shorter Catechisms,
as most seasonable, sound, and according to the Scriptures, and well
worth the reading, considering, and practising what is therein held
forth.

" I adhere to the Rutherglen Testimony ; to the paper commonly
called Mr Donald Cargill's covenant, of the date June 1680; I say,
I adhere to the original copies of these papers, as they were corrected
and revised by the authors.

" And, likewise, I adhere to every sound paper, tending to the
good of religion, as the Directory for Worship and Catechising ; and
I adhere unto the doctrine, discipline, worship, and government of
the Church of Scotland.

" I bear my testimony unto all the lawful wrestlings of the people
of God for truth, and in the defence and preservation of their civil,
natural, and divine rights and privileges, contained and held forth in
the foresaid papers, against all encroachers thereupon and betrayers
thereof ; especially by the sword, as a mean most lawful and com-
manded of God, to be made use of in that quarrel ; which is to be
carried to preachings, and other assemblies of the Lord's people, and
so much the more, as the enemy discharges it, as the case now stands.

" In the last place, I give my testimony and protestation against
all wrongs and injuries done to God and His people throughout the
whole world this day ; and more particularly against all that hath
been done in Scotland since the beginning of the work of Refor-
mation unto this day, in prejudice to God's glory. His work and
people, and especially these crying sins :

176 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" 1. The corruption of the worship of God, profanation of His
holy things, mocking, misbelieving and belying of God, and carrying,
as if there were no God ; yea, which is worse, saying He approves of
all that they do. Oh, this heaven-contemning generation !

" 2. Against the defrauding, mocking, murdering, and oppressing
the people of God, in their bodies, consciences, and estates, and
punishing them as evil doers ; yea, as the vilest monsters of cruelty ;
and that only for following their duty, and making them to stink, as
it were, above the ground, and making their names to rot by calum-
nies and reproaches, and doing all they can to drive them to sin ;
and then blaming them, as the main instruments of all the mischiev-
ous villanies and abuses in the land ; so that it is come to that with
it, 'The man that departs from iniquity makes himself a prey.' And
scarcely can these, who design honestly, get a night's quarters in
any house of the land ; so that the people of God are become a
scorn to their foes, and a feat to their friends, and especially re-
]:)roached of those who are their nearest neighbours, as the Psalmist
complains.

" 3. I leave my testimony against all that make peace with the
stated enemies of God, these Christ-despisers, these heaven-contem-
ners and none-such fighters against God : whether liy bonds, oaths,
or promises ; they being persons worthy of no credit, nor trust ; who
will not keep faith, nor trust upon any account, but where it may
contribute for fulfilling their lusts, and prosecuting their wicked
designs, and hell-hatched enterprises. If they were brought to straits,
possibly they might feign themselves ; but he is unwise that will give
them so much trust as a dog. As Solomon says, * When he speaks fair,
believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart :' which
I ha\'e a proof of, in m)' taking by a poor A\Tetch who had sold soul
and conscience to the lust and arbitrament of a faithless apostate
HTCtch like himself.

'' And if ye will not be persuaded to leave off seeking their peace,
and covenanting with them by bonds, oaths, and promises, well, see
what David, the king of Israel, says, by the Spirit of God, when he is
making his testament, 2 Sam. xxiii. 6, 7 : ' But the sons of Belial
shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be
taken with hands : but the man that .shall touch them must be fenced
with iron, and the staff of a spear ; and they shall be utterly burned
with fire.' But ye, that are much more seeking peace with enemies
than with God ; think with yourselves to which of them are ye most

William Thomson. i 7 7

beholden, and which of them have done you most good ; which of
them have most power over you ? Which of the two hath the best
quarrel by the end ? Which of the two is most precious and lovely ?
And which of the two will be your judge at the last day ? Well, if
ye have done well in seeking the peace of enemies with the loss of
the peace of God ; then rejoice ye in them, and with them, and let
them do so with you. And if otherwise, the Lord, no doubt, will
reward you, as the cause requires, for what ye have done to God's
work, cause, covenant, and people.

" 4. I leave my testimony against all that contribute of
their means for the down-bearing of God's work and people, and
upholding His and their enemies (seeing it is so expressly against
the Covenant ; and in that case they, being called to suffer, and not
to sin, to which practice is annexed a gracious promise, He that
loseth life, land, goods, or relations, for Christ's sake and the Gospel's,
shall receive an hundredfold in this life, and in the world to come
life everlasting) ; and against all that otherwise waste and abuse
them to God's dishonour, but only using this world, as not abusing
it; for all within the nation being dedicate and given away by
Covenant to God ; and this being often renewed, calls all men to be
tender of the oath of God, and to see how they administer their
stewardship, for to Him they must be accountable. But alas ! for
that account which many of them have to make !

" I leave my testimony against the rendering up the power of the
Kirk and State into the hands of malignants. I do really think, they
have been all dreaming, or wilfully and wickedly sinning against the
light of their own consciences. Well, God hath discovered them since,
in an ugly manner ; and now they sin more and more. They hold
fast deceit ; they refuse to let it go, and will not return. It is the
old professors and ministers I mean in a special manner ; but more
particularly the ministers ; for, when the time was to speak, they held
their peace, and slipped from their Master's back, without so much
as once testifying against the horrid sins then committed, and did
never to this day make up the hedge, and build that which they
brake down. And, as I am informed, a great part have been dreadful
complyers with, and conformers to the sinful courses of this apostatis-
ing generation ; yea, open persecutors of their more godly and faith-
ful brethren, ministers, and professors ; and now they are the greatest
opposers of the work, and persecutors of the godly, both underhand
and to their face ; and, instead of edifying and binding up the weak,

178

-i Cloud of Witnesses,

strive to break all they can, and especially when they are among
the enemy's hands.

" In the last place, I bear my testimony to the cross of Christ, as
the only desirable upmaking and rich lot of the people of God this
day in Scotland. Oh ! it is the portion of poor things, who desire to
seek God, and design honesty in the land ! I think they want a
good bargain of it that want it, and I think they want nothing that
have it, and get leave to carry it heartsomely, and His presence
under it ; I would advise you all to take it on. I dare say this much
for your encouragement, that it is easy and sweet. There is no
better way to carry the cross right, than to cast all our care upon
Christ, and trust Him for all things, and use our single endeavours
in the matter, and speak what He bids us, and when He bids us,
and obey His voice in all things.

" Now, I declare I hate all ungodliness. Now, farewell all things
wherein I have been troubled with ; a wicked world, and evil heart of
misbelief, a subtile, powerful, aud mahcious devil, and tempted with
a company of men who have shaken off the fear of God, Now,
welcome Lord Jesus I — into thy hands I commit my spirit.
" Sic subscribitur,

"WILLIAM THOMSON."

V/illiam Cuthill.

|LL that is known of William Cuthill, is contained m his con-
fession, read at his trial. He was taken by some of the
Earl of Mar's men, with two pistols and a dirk about him.
" Being interrogated, if it be lawful to kill the king ? answers, the
king has broken the Covenant, and presses others to do so by his
forces, and therefore he thinks he deserves to die, and denies his
authority upon that account. As to the murder of the Archbishop,
he thinks the persons who did it had the glory of God before their
eyes ; and refuses to sign."

William Cut hi II. i 79

It must be remembered, that we owe this confession, which
he did not sign, to his enemies, and they may purposely have made
its language stronger than it really was. Like William Thomson, he
suffered at the same time with Donald Cargill.

Several allusions in Cuthill's Testimony need explanation :

1. The commissioning Montrose. On the death of Charles I.,
the Scottish Parliament proclaimed his son, Charles II., but at the
same time resolved not to admit him to the throne till he gave
security for the liberty and the religion of the kingdom. Delegates
were despatched to wait on him and offer him the throne on these
teniis. But James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, and a few other
nobles of like mind, were already with the king, and counselled him
to reject the proposal of Parliament, and offered to do their utmost
to place him on the throne by force of arms. With characteristic
duplicity Charles listened to both. While he favourably negotiated
with the delegates, he commissioned Montrose to make a descent on
Scotland. In April 1650, Montrose, with about a thousand men,
landed from the Orkney Islands upon the mainland, but rumours of
former cruelties had gone before him, and the country people fled at
his advance. He himself was surprised by Strachan, an officer under
General David Leslie, and taken prisoner near the pass of Inver-
charron, on the confines of Ross-shire. The commission itself, and
encouraging letters from the king, were found upon him when he was
delivered up to Leslie.

2. For the Causes of Wrath, see page 27.

3. The Remonstrance of the gentlemen, ministers, and commanders
attending the forces in the west, in the year 1650, was written by
Patrick Gillespie, and was addressed to the Committee of Estates.
It censured their rashness in admitting the king to desecrate the
Covenant by swearing contrarj.- to his known intentions, plainly seen
in the commissioned invasion of his favourite, the Marquis of
Montrose.

4. The Public Resolutions rose out of an Act entitled " The Act
of Classes," passed February 17, 1649. It " Ordained that no person
that is malignant and disaff'ected to the present Work of Reforma-
tion and Covenants, nor any person given to drunkenness, swear-
ing, uncleanness, or any other scandalous offence, shall hereafter be
chosen to be officer of an army belonging to the kingdom, or em-
ployed in any place of public power or trust." The effect of this
Act was, that many of Charles' friends were excluded from office.

1 8o ^1 Cloud of Witnesses.

In order to have some plea for repealing this wholesome statute, it
was thought desirable to gain the consent of the General Assembly.
A few members of the Commission of the General Assembly, Decem-
ber 1650, passed two resolutions favourable, with one or two restric-
tions, to the admission into the army of all fencible persons in the
kingdom. The Parliament immediately repealed the Act, and Mon-
trose and many notorious enemies of the liberties of the subject were
speedily put in places of trust. Keen debates arose in the General
Assembly, and those who approved of the resolutions were called
the Resolutioners, and those who disapproved were the Protesters.

5. Naphtali was the precursor of the " Cloud of Witnesses." Its
title explains its nature or contents : " Naphtali, or the Wrestlings
of the Church of Scotland for the Kingdom of Christ, contained in
a true antl short deduction thereof, from the beginning of the Refor-
mation of religion until the year 1667, together with the case, speeches,
and testimonies, of some who have died for the truth, since the year
1660." Its first part was from the pen of James Stewart, afterwards
Sir James Stewart, and King's Advocate after the Revolution. It is
written with a fiery eloquence, and is remarkable for its happy use of
Scripture, and the ability with which it shows the unscriptural nature
of Prelacy, and defines the respective provinces of Church and State.
The second part is the larger portion of the volume, and is mainly
narrative. It was written, says Wodrow, by a very worthy minister,
the Reverend Mr James Stirling, minister of the Gospel at Paisley.
By a Proclamation of Council, December 12, 1667, Naphtali was
ordered to be burned, and copies of it were ordained to be brought
into the nearest magistrates before February i, 1668 ; and all persons,
after this date, in possession of copies, were to be fined ten thousand
pounds Scots. This proclamation is the best testimony to the real
merit of the book, for it is one of the most readable books of that
period, and of no great size, — the edition of 1680 is an iSmo, of
243 pages, — and is just the book that Prelates and the supporters of
arbitrary power would find easier to burn than to answer. Attached
to the first edition is an appendix, containing the speeches and
testimonies of the Marquis of Argyll, James Guthrie of Stirling, Lord
Warriston, etc. The edition of 1680 contains a second appendix of
"Papers left by Mr James Mitchell, .sentenced to die January 18,
1678 ;" " The Speech of the most faithful and pious servant of Jesus
Christ, Mr John Kid, minister of the Gospel, who suffered at Edin-
burgh the 14th day of August 1679," etc.- — Ed.]

William CiUhill.

i«i

HE LAST TESTIMONY of William Cuthill, Seaman
in Borrowstounness, wlio suftered at Edinburgh, July
27, 1681.

(This testimony having a large preamble, wherein
he gives his private opinion concerning some things
then in debate, which do not relate to the causes of his
suffering, and which are of no use now ; these vain
janghngs and unprofitable strifes of words being ceased, and his
opinion about them not being a testimony for truth, nor espoused
by any of the godly as a head of suffering or contending for ; the
encouragers of this work have thought fit that the preamble be passed
by, and the Testimony itself only published.)

" I here, as one ready to step into eternity, and one of the subjects
of a kingdom covenanted to God, and one of Christ's sufterers, enter
my protestation, and give in my testimony against all that hath been
done against Christ's reigning, and the thriving of His kingdom in
Scotland, since the beginning of the work of Reformation : and
more particularly against all the several steps of backsliding :

" As I. The admitting of Charles Stuart to the exercise of kingly
power, and crowning him, while they kncAV he carried heart enmity
against the work and people of God, and while, in the meantime,
there was so much of his treachery made known to the Parliament.'^
By his commissioning James Graham, Earl of Montrose, to burn and
slay the subjects of this kingdom, that would not side with, or would
withstand him in the prosecuting of his wickedness, which is recorded
in the Causes of A\^rath and the Remonstrance of the gentlemen,
ministers, and commanders attending the forces in the west, in the
year 1650.

" 2, Against the unfaithfulness, connivance, and compliance
of ministers and others at the wickedness perpetrated in the land,

* This ought not to be understood of the manner of his coronation, which is
owned by all Presbyterians to have been most consonant to God's Word, and the
national constitution of Scotland ; but of his disposition and practice, which was
too evidently contradictory to the sacred engagement he came under. — Note by the
compilers of the " C/ouii."

1 8 2 A Cloud of Witnesses.

during the time of Cromwell's usurpation ; for, as I am informed,
few testified against him, for trampling all the interests of Jesus
Christ under his feet, in giving a toleration to all sectaries (whereof
the abominable and blasphemous Quakers are a witness, whose
religion is nothing but refined Paganism at the best ; yea, I think, it
is much worse) , which was to set up their thresholds beside Christ's,
and their altars beside the Lord's, in a land covenanted to God,
never to sufter the like, and lying under the same bonds.

" 3 Against the Public Resolutions for the bringing in malig-
nants to places of power and trust ; which have been the rod in
God's hand above the heads, and upon the backs of God's people,
ever since they lusted after them. And now, I suppose they are
convinced (at least some of them), that God hath given them on the
finger-ends for it. But we have not seen them confessing before God
and His people in public , for it should be as public as the sin was ;
that they have added this sin to all their other sins, in asking them a
king, whereas the Lord was their King.

'* 4. I bear my testimony against that unparallelled practice of
ministers, in quitting their charges ; and that (which doth more aggra-
vate their guilt) at his [Charles II.] command, who had no power to act,
nor right to be obeyed, neither in that, nor yet in civil things ; for then
lie had unkinged himself ; and their going away without almost ever
a testimony, who should have been the main men that should have
told the people what to do. Oh ! and alas for that practice ! yet they
were ])ut away without being convicted of any crime done against him.
But is it not against Presbyterian principles, that a king should de-
pose ministers of the Gospel ; though he had a just right, all that
time, to rule the civil state ? For it was without controversy, that he
had imprisoned some of Christ's ministers, without being ever sum-
moned, or treated by any legal procedure, as Naphtali records, and
usurped the ecclesiastic officer's seat, to depose the rest of them.

" 5. I hold it one of the Causes of God's Wrath against the
land, and one of the causes of God's breaking and scattering that
poor handful of men at Pentland, that renewed tlie Covenant at
Lanark, and did not keep out His interest out of it ; for it only
binds us to its maintainers, not to its destroyers.

" 6. I bear testimony against the procedure of the ministers,
when they came to the fields again after Pentland, because they did
not first begin with public and private fasts, and make up the hedge
nnd gap, for the Church of God in Scotland ; and then only preach-

William Cuthill. 183

ing to cases of conscience, and not catechising the people, nor
informing them in the duty of the day ; but did let them pay curates'
stipends, and other revenues of that nature. But I think they were
engaged to God, under the pain of losing soul and body, in the day
of God's fearful judgment, to tell the people to chase them out of
the land. Seeing Prelacy was abjured and cast out like an abomin-
able branch, as it was, were they not worthy to die the death, that
would, against so much light, defile God's land with that abjured
abomination ? but forsooth, to this day they must be fed like birds in
a cage, upon the fattest of the land, and the spoils of Christ's crown !

"7.1 bear my testimony against that course carried on by the
ministers ; their conniving at, countenancing of, and complying with
these indulged that have quit Christ, and taken on with another
master. Oh, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously !
yea, they were open persecutors of the really godly thereafter for
their faithfulness, and were about to stop their mouth, and to make
that Indulgence the door by which all the ministers were to enter to
their ministry.

" 8. I bear my testimony against their ti^eachery at Bothwell
Bridge, in stopping the drawing up of the Causes of God's Wrath, and
keeping a fast day, and changing their declaration ; and in hindering
the purging of the army ; and to mend all, they raised the ugliest
clamour and report upon them that minded and spoke honestly and
truly, that could be.

"9. I bear my testimony against their treachery at Edinburgh,
when a proclamation came out to the view of the world, blaspheming
God's true religion, and declaring that all that belonged to God was
due to Charles Stuart, which is the plain sense of the Act ; and they
sat in an assembly, and voted for a liberty coming from him to preach
by ; though that same very day that this was proclaimed, two of their
more worthy and faithful brethren [Messrs John King and John Kid]
were murdered, [The Indemnity after Bothwell, published August
14, 1679.] I think this people are grown like brute beasts.

" Oh, how much pomp and joviality was that day in rejoicing
over the ruins of the work of God and His people, yea, over Himself.
There was first a scaffold made on the east side of the Cross, and a
green table set down on it, and two green forms ; and then the Cross
was covered, and, about twelve hours of the day, the Pursuivants, and
Heralds, and Lyon King at Arms, and eight trumpeters, went up to
the Cross, and fourteen men on the foresaid scaffold, and seven or

184 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

them with red govms of velvet, and seven with black, and then that
Act was read, and at night the bells were ringing, and bonfires
burning. Oh ! I think it was a wonder, that God made not all the
town, where such wickedness was acted against and in despite of Him,
to sink to the lowest hell.

"10. I leave my testimony against them for running away and
lea\ang God's flock after Bothwell Bridge, when they had drawn
them to tlie fields. The Lord be judge this day between them and
His flock, and let their sentence come out from before His presence,
and let His eyes behold those things that are equal. Oh, their skirts
ire full of the blood of souls ! They say, the people hath left them,
but it is more evident than that it can be gainsaid, that they have left
the people. Does not the Scripture say, that they who are in the
watchmen's place should warn the people when they see the sword
come ; and have not the ministers of Scotland had the first hand in
all these courses of backslidings ? Should they be pure with unclean
hands, and the unjust balance (so to say), and the bag of deceitful
weights ? Well, their sins are known to be no more sins of weakness,
but sins of wickedness.

"11. I bear my testimony against them, because they did not
join with their brethren, in the work of the day, in preaching to the
people in the fields, with Mr Richard Cameron and Mr Donald Cargill.
And will ye tell me, although there were never one to open their
mouth in that thing, does not the work of the one confound them
to silence, and tlie work of the other justify and plead for them ?
But there is one thing I have learned from the practice of all this
people, and God's dealings with them ; they have sought their own
and one another's credit, more than God's, and He hath discovered
their wickedness in their ugliness.

''12. I bear my testimony against their obstinacy, in refusing to
return and amend their manners. They hold fast wickedness, and
refuse to let it go, and that is against the light of God's word, their
own consciences, their vows and engagements to God, the cries of
bloodshed, the cries of wTong done to God and His work, and
against these their fonner preachings and practices ; that they \s^
not come out and rid the ground, so to speak, and seek out the causes
of God's wrath, and set days of humiliation apart, and see that they
be kept, and renew their engagements, and carry themselves like
ministers of Jesus Christ afterward. Is this erroneous? Is not
this according to Presbyterian principles? Does not the Confession

William CrtthilL 185

of our Faith say, These who offend the Church, and their brethren,
should make their repentance as pubUc as their offences have been ?
Is not this the plain meaning of that article, yea, the very words
almost of the Confession of Faith, chap. xv. sect. 6 ? Without which
thing be done, if any would take my counsel, who am looking to
receive the sentence of death every hour, I would say, meddle not
with them, for they have not only sinned against the Church of God,
and their brethren, and their own souls ; but against God. And
have they not been light and treacherous ? whereof many instances
may be given. Have they not polluted the sanctuary ? Have they
not done violence to the law ? Have they not been unfaithful ?
Are they not walking very openly amongst God's stated enemies,
while the people of God dare not be seen ? I fear, if they make not
haste to come off these courses, that God's wrath shall overtake them
ere it be long.

" And lastly^ I bear my testimony against them, for their untender-
ness to weak consciences, and making use of their gifts and parts to
wrest the word of God, to put out that light, which God has given
poor things ; of which I, among others, have a proof; for one of them
came into the prison, and told me, that he had been dealing with
him, who had been pursuing us to death, (the king's Advocate) that
he would not take innocent blood upon him, and out of love and
tenderness to our souls, he came to pay us a visit ; and said, he was
neither a curate nor an Indulged man, but a minister of the Gospel.
So he said, that we would be well advised what we were doing, for
the Advocate had said we were shortly to be before the criminal
court. And I asked, what he advised us to do ? and began to tell him
the ground whereupon we were accused, which was this ; that Charles
Stuart, having broken and burnt God's Covenant, and compelled all
that he could by his forces to do the like, and slain many upon that
account ; upon this head I declined his authority ; and being hard
cjuestioned, confessed that I thought it lawful to kill him, but I did
not say by whose hands. And he said, all that would not free me
from being his subject, and instanced Zedekiah's case to prove it.
But I was not in case to speak to him (being confused with a dis-
tracted man who was in with us). Only I told him there was as great a
difference betwixt that of Zedekiah, and this in hand, as east was from
the west. And he called us Jannes and Jambres, who withstood the
truth, when we would not hear him ; and said, there was no such
thing as any condition holden out in the form and order of the

1 86 A Cloud of Witnesses.

coronation, that did free us from allegiance to Charles Stuart upon
that account.

" But what do they think, that every one can reason and debate
with them ; or else that they are not Christians, but gainstanders of
the truth ? Hath not God given to every man his measure of hght
and grace both ? If they know not this, and walk not accordingly,
they were never worthy to be ministers of the Gospel. He said, that
he could send me any of the ministers, whom I pleased to call for.
I said, that I heard tell Mr Donald Cargill was taken ; would he
send him to me, and I would take it as a great kindness off his hand?
But he said, that he had taken a way by himself But what shall I
say j my heart is like to sink, when I think on them, and the case of
the land. Oh ! I think, it is a desperate-like case I only I know
God can, and I hope He will cure it.

" Next, I bear rny testimony against all that pay cess and locality
to uphold Christ's enemies, the bloody soldiers, or any of that cursed
crew; yea, against all that give them meat or drink when they
come to their houses, it being so expressly against Christ and the
Covenant ; and against all that pay customs or duties, belonging to
the crown of Scotland, unto Charles Stuart, his officers, collectors,
or tacksmen, seeing all that is employed against Christ ; and against
all that shall do it, till they \vit [/>., know] well that it be otherwise
employed ; and against all bonders with them, or to him, or any in
his name, or delegated by him, or clothed with his authority ; seeing
they are persons worthy of no credit ; whereof I have a proof in my
taking. Ye would do well to believe the wise man Solomon, who
says, ' When he speaks fair, believe him not, for there are seven
abominations in his heart.'

" Next, I leave my testimony against all that side with, or
strengthen the hands of the adversaries of the Lord, in less or more,
against clear conviction from the word of God, or sound reason ; and
particularly against this duke [of York], that bold and truculent Papist,
who hath defiled the Lord's land with liis altars and images. And I
[jrotest against this ensuing Parliament, for putting power in his hand,
to do what he pleaseth ; for by the word of God, and the laws of the
land, he should die the death. And also, I bear testimony against
these who have sided with, or strengthened the foresaid enemy,
and will not come off again. Oh ! if they will not help the
people of God, that they would let them alone, and not help their
adversaries.

Williain Cuthill. 187

" Next, I leave my testimony against the gentry and commonality,
for letting so much innocent blood be shed ; some of which ranks, I
think, God hath a turn [?>., piece of work] to put in their hands yet, if
they would espouse His quarrel, and turn to Him with all their hearts,
and not suffer the work to go as it does. But indeed they must keep
company with God's stated enemies, and learn the Court fashion.
I will tell you one thing ; ye have lost the manners of the Court of
Heaven, by learning the manners of the Courts of men. Oh ! what
think ye to do, or how think ye to be accountable to God ? Will ye
but speak your minds, who ye think hath the best end of the con-
troversy? Will ye let the fear of men and the devil prevail with
you, more than the fear of God ? Or what think ye this duke would
do to you, when he sees his opportunity ; will ye trust bloody
Papists? It may be ye be put to suifer on worse accounts yet,
if ye will not own God and His people.

" But there are but very few of you now who are aught but
mockers. Will ye turn to the Lord with all your hearts ? Is it any
shame to you to take shame to yourselves in glorifying God by con-
fessing your sins and turning from them ? But will ye tell me now ;
who, think ye, can be at one with you while ye are standing out
against God ? Will ye read but the first chapter of Isaiah, and con-
sider it and the first two chapters of Jeremiah, the second of Joel, the
prophecy of Haggai, Isaiah xxii., Ezek. vii. Oh ! consider, and if
not, the Lord and you take it between you. Read and consider
Psalm 1. 5.

" Now, what shall I say to you who own and adhere to God's
cause against all the enemies? Oh! that I could let you see the
inside of my heart ! Will ye learn Christianity ? Seek the Lord and
get Him on your side. I think it is a good token of a sanctified
heart that longs more to be in God's company nor [/>., than] other
folk's — that sees that the worst of evil lies in committing sin. Beware
of heart-risings, and grudgings one against another. Know that there
is a great difference between sins of weakness and sins of wickedness.
Ye may not mark every failing j for if ye do, ye shall not have two to
stay together in Scotland.

" Oh ! but there be much need of the Gospel ; and these ministers
will not come out and contend for Christ ; without which, though I
were at liberty, God knows, I durst not meddle with them, and I
would rather keep back from them nor \j..e., than] other folk.
For I think there are many of them either unconcerned, or then

i88 A Cloud of Witnesses.

dreadfully misled; for how can it be otherwise? not bearing with
tender consciences ; for they will rather strive to break folk nor \i.e.,
than] build them up. But how can any that has love to Christ look
on them with good-will ? I do verily thmk, if e\er they turn again,
the world shall hear tell of it. It is beyond all controversy, that they
have quit their first works and their first love.

" Oh ! will ye learn to be sober and grave. Cleave to your
covenants and engagements ; I say, mind your engagements. Look
what becomes of covenant-breakers. I would say unto you, take no
courses by the end till God give you clearness. But, indeed, I know
that God will reprove many in this generation, because they put
away light from them.

" Now ye are deprived of all cleanly preaching, But will ye
observe Christ's answer to the spouse in the Song, when she says :
' Where makest thou thy flocks to rest at noon ? ' He says : ' If
thou know not. Oh ! thou fairest among women ; go out by the
shepherds' tents,' Beware of turning aside to the flocks of His
companions,

" Beware of these ministers of Charles Stuart, these Indulged,
and these Prelatic, these mockers of God and contemners of the
godly, these Christ-deserters, these undervaluers of heaven, these
scandalous and insignificant time-servers, whom God hath blasted
to the conviction of all the generation that see anything ; these
monsters of men, the disgrace of the ministry, the just contempt of
tlie generation. God hath sometimes had a Church without a ministry,
but He never had a ministry without a Church. Doth not the
Scriptures say, that for many days Israel sliall be without a priest,
without teraphim ? Do we not see in the Revelation the two wit-
nesses slain, and lie three days and a half? But oh ! cry to God,
that He would send forth labourers into His vineyard ; for verily
the harvest is great, but the labourers are few. If there be a casting
at [/>., rejecting] the Gospel on the people's side, then I think
they shall be in extreme hazard of losing their souls, if God's mercy
prevent it not ; for then they refuse to be guided by God, But if
when the hireling sees the wolf come, he run away and leave the
sheep, because he is an hirehng, then I think the mercy of God is
engaged for the sheep, because they have no shepherd. It is not
the first time that Israel has been scattered as sheep having no shep
herd. But it is as sure as the sun shines, none can keep himself
nor guide himself; it is not in him that walketh to direct his steps.

William Cut kill. 189

And God hath sown a joyful light to the upright. And He has said :
' He that sitteth in darkness and hath no light, let him trust in the
Lord, and stay himself upon His God.'

" But could the spouse rest in Jerusalem, and her husband not be
found? It is beyond debate, that she made all the fields ado [i.e.,
sought over all the fields] before she wanted Him. Can the spouse
see another wear her husband's clothes and be well satisfied ? — yea,
one that has robbed, spoiled, and shut him to the doors with disgrace,
contempt, and shame, and as one unworthy to manage the affairs of
his own house ; and has defied him to take anything back again,
and has set up legs and arms, heads and hands, and quarters of the
children as trophies of victory over the good-man of the house, and
has triumphed with spite and contempt, and is only seeking it off the
poor widow, the wife and the bairns, to be quiet, and accept of him
for a husband and father. So I say, shall the wife and children of
such a husband and father be peaceable to see this? I trow [/.e*.,
believe] there are few earthly folk would do so.

" But oh ! who can show the difference here ? As to searching
out, it cannot be. The Lord keep you from dwelling at ease under
one roof with such an one. Beware of making any treaty of peace
with such a robber and murderer as this. Beware of feeding these
his soldiers, or giving them quarters when they come to your houses.
Oh ! but the kings of Assyria knew well enough that the kings of
Israel were merciful kings ! If ye will not use the sword at God's
bidding, God will put it (as He hath) into the hands of His and your
enemies, to use it against you. Indeed I think, till Saul's sons be
hanged up before the Lord, the plague of famine shall not be stayed
from Israel

" Now, in the next place, I witness, by this my testimony, my ad-
herence to the Scriptures of truth, the holy Bible, the Old and
New Testaments, which have been made sweet to me. The fault is
not in them that we understand them not, but in us ; and this we
have as our old father Adam's heirship.

" I witness my adherence to the Covenants, National and Solemn
League ; Confession of Faith ; only there is in it something concern-
ing the magistrate calling a synod of ministers, by virtue of his
magistratical power, which ought to be cautiously understood, accord-
ing to the General Assembly's explication.

" I adhere to the Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, Psalms in metre.
Directory for Worship, Form of Church Government, the doctrine of

190

A Cloud of Witnesses.

the Church of Scotland as it is held out in the word of God, and
laid down in the foresaid papers.

" I adhere to all the faithful testimonies for truth in Scotland, of
one sort and another, and particularly these three, the papers found
at the Queensferry, of the date the 3d of June [1680], the Sanquhar
Declaration, the Rutherglen Testimony, and every paper tending to
the good of religion, particularly the Causes of Cod's Wrath ; and I
request all to read and consider them.

" I leave my testimony against them that say, that I am a self-
murderer, because I spake that which God gave me to speak before
His adversaries. And I think that it is my great mercy, that He hath
helped me to be free before them in matters of truth, relating to the
disowning of them, and standing to our God's and our own rights.

" This paper I leave as my testimony and formed and deliberate
thoughts ; and request all to bear with faults of weakness, especially
when the sword of the adversary is above a man's head.

" Now farewell world, and all things in it. Welcome Lord Jesus
Christ ; into thy hands I recommend my spirit.
" Sic subscribitur,

"WILLIAM CUTHILL."

Robert Garnock.

lOHN HOWIE in his "Scots Worthies," has given a life
of Robert Garnock, taken from a manuscript autobiography
written by him while in prison. It is one of the most
interesting lives in the volume. He was a smith or hammerman in
Stirling. Patrick Walker says he was esteemed by all to be a singular
Christian, of deep exercise, high attainments, great knowledge and
experience in the way of the Lord. He was apprehended at Stirling
May 8, 1679, shortly after a skirmish between upwards of sixty sol-

Robert Gar?iock. 191

diers and a small number of people who were assembling for a
field-preaching in the neighbourhood. He lay in prison for more
than two years untried. At last he was tried, October 7, 1681, along
with Patrick Forman, David Farrie, James Stuart, and Alexander
Russel, whose testimonies follow Garnock's in this volume. George
Lapslay, who signed along with them a joint protestation to the jury,
had his trial delayed, November 7 ; but in the interval he escaped
from prison.

The substance of Garnock's indictment is in Wodrow. With the
other four he was sentenced to be hanged at the Gallowlee. Forman's
right hand was to be cut off before death, and the hands and the
heads of the others after death, \^^odrow says that the sentence
was executed against all of them at the Gallowlee, and the reason of
this change of place was, that the executions at the Cross and Grass-
market drew so many spectators, and the carriage and last speeches
of the sufferers made such an impression, that it was found advisable
to take them out of town, to a place where some of the most notorious
criminals used to be hanged.

The Gallowlee was in Leith Walk, half-way between Edinburgh and
Leith. It was a slight rising ground formed of sand, near the site of
the toll-house, and on the west side of the road. When the New Town
of Edinburgh was in the course of building, the sand of the Gallowlee
was an object of value for mortar, so that, instead of being a rising
ground, it became a hollow, and is now a nursery garden. It was
the usual place where were suspended all criminals whose bodies
were sentenced to be hung in chains. But the bodies of Robert
Garnock and his four companions were buried at the gallows foot.

Patrick Walker gives a vivid description of their execution, of
what was done with their remains that evening, and of their reinter-
ment many years afterwards :

" The never-to-be-forgotten Mr James Renwick told me that he
was witness to this public murder at the Gallowlee, betwixt Leith and
Edinburgh, where he saw the hangman hash and hag off all their five
heads, with Patrick Forman's right hand. Their bodies were all
buried at the gallows foot. Their heads, with Patrick's hand, were
brought and put upon five pikes on the Pleasance Port. Some
honest old men told me of late, that they were witness to the
same, and saw the hangman drive down their heads to the foot of
the pike, and thereby broke their skulls. Mr Renwick told me also
that it was the first public action that his hand was at, to convene

192 A Cloud of Witnesses.

friends, and lift their murdered bodies, and carry them to the West
Churchyard of Edinburgh, and bury them there. Then they came
about the city to the Nether Bow Port, with a design to take the
heads, hands, and other parts of our martyrs' bodies, down ; but a
woman, holding over a candle to let some people see the street,
marred them. Then they took down these five heads and that hand ;
and the day being come, they went quickly up the Pleasance, and
when they came to Lauristoun Yards, upon the south side of the
city, they durst not venture, being so light, to go and bury their heads
with their bodies, which they designed ; it being present death, if
any of them had been found. Alexander Tweedie, a friend, being
with them, who at that time was gardener in these Yards, concluded
to bury them in his yard, being in a box (wrapped in linen), where
they lay forty-five years, except three days, being executed upon the
tenth of October 1681, and found the 7th day of October 1726.

" That piece of ground for some years lay unlaboured ; and,
trenching it, the gardener found them, which aff'righted him ; the box
was consumed. Mr Schaw, the owner of these yards, caused lift
them, and lay them upon a table in his summer house. Mr Schaw's
mother was so kind as to cut out a linen cloth, and cover them.
They lay twelve days there, where all had access to see them. Alex-
ander Tweedie, the foresaid gardener, said, when dying, there was a
treasure hid in his yard, but neither gold nor silver. Daniel Tweedie,
his son, came along with me to that yard, and told me that his father
planted a white rose bush above them, and further down the yard a
red rose bush, which were more fruitful than any other bush in the
yard. And he is persuaded that some others of our martyrs' heads
were buried there, as Archibald Stewart, John Potter, William
Cuthill, William Thomson ; and others whose heads were fixed upon
the West Port, but shortly taken away by friends.

"There were six of us concluded to bury them up, on the 19th
day of October 1726, and every one of us to acquaint friends of the
day and hour, being Wednesday, the day of the week upon which
most of them were executed, and at four of the clock at night, being
the hour that most of them went to their resting graves. We caused
make a complete coffin for them in black, with four yards of fine
linen, the way our martyr-corpses were managed. And having the
happiness of friendly magistrates at the time, we went to the present
Provost Drummond and Bailie Ninmio, and acquainted them with
our conclusions anent them ; with which they were pleased, and said,

Netherbow Port, Edinburgh.

(From the East.)

Robert Garnock. 19^

If we were sure that they were our martyr's heads, we might bury
them decently and orderly.

" Accordingly, we kept the foresaid day and hour, and doubled
the linen, and laid the half of it below them, their nether jaws being
parted from their heads, but being young men, their teeth remained.
All were witness to the holes in each of their heads, which the hang-
man broke with his hammer ; and, according to the bigness of their
skulls, we laid their jaws to them, and drew the other half of the
linen above them, and stuffed the coffin with shavings. Some pressed
hard to go through the chief parts of the city, as was done at the
Revolution. But this we refused, considering that it looked airy and
frothy to make such show of them, and inconsistent with the solid,
serious observing of such an affecting, surprising, unheard of dispen-
sation ; but took the ordinary way of other burials from that place, to
wit, we went east by the back of the Wall, and in at Bristo Port, and
down the way to the head of the Cowgate, and turned up to the
churchyard ; where they were interred close to the Martyrs' Tomb,
with the greatest multitude of people, old and young, men and
women, ministers and others, that ever I saw together.

" However, some deny and others will not believe that all this
is matter of fact ; far less will many believe it forty, fifty, or sixty years
after this ; when boys and girls of six, eight, or ten years of age, who
were witnesses to it, shall tell, That we saw five heads, wanting bodies,
reburied forty-five years after they were murdered, for maintaining
Presbyterian principles, in a time of persecution that was in the days
of our fathers, by the Popish, Prelatical, and Malignant faction.

" However some may reckon of that dispensation of the earth's
now disclosing (as not being able any longer to cover) the blood of
these slain witnesses, yet, doubtless, they are five witnesses, forty-
five years old, of the tyranny and cruelty of that never-to-be-forgotten
time."

To this notice of the five martyrs, he adds a funeral poem, upon
vhese five m.artyrs' heads. It extends to fifty lines, but its merit as
a poem is small. Its best lines are its opening ones, viz. :

" When (or our fathers' sins, by angry Heaven,
To persecuting Prelates power was given ;
Then they became the nation's scourge and rod,
And for a season on the saints they trode."

-Ed.]

1 94 A Cloud of Witnesses.

'^ HE DYING TESTIMONY of Robert Garnock,
Hammerman in Stirling, who suffered at the Gallow-
lee, betwixt Leith and Edinburgh, October lo, 1681.

" Men and Brethren, — I, having received a sen-
tence of death from men, for adhering to the truth
against Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and Indulgences
first and last, and all that was contrary to sound doc-
trine ; am now to leave a line behind me, as the Lord will help me
to write ; and to tell you, that however this generation may condemn
me, as having a hand in my own death, I declare that it is not so ;
for I die a Presbyterian in my judgment. For I, considering how
solemnly Scotland was bound to defend truth against all encroach-
ments made thereon, with their lives and liberties, and how they of
this nation had so easily broken their vows and engagements ; and
then seeing, through the Scriptures, how deep Covenant-breaking
draws, and what a great and heinous sin this is in the sight of God ;
could do no less than give in my protestation against all their proceed-
ings, in these hell-hatched acts that were so contrary to the word of
God, and our sworn Covenants. And it is for that, that I am come
in your presence this day, to lay down this life of mine ; for which I
bless the Lord, that ever He honoured the like of me with a gibbet
and bloody winding-sheet, for His noble, honourable and sweet cause.

" Oh ! will ye love Him, sirs ? Oh ! He is well worth the loving,
and quitting all for. Oh ! for many lives to seal the sweet cause with.
If I had as many lives as there are hairs on my head, I would think
them all too little to be martyrs for truth. I bless the Lord, I do not
suffer unwillingly, nor by constraint ; but heartily and cheerfully. Oh \
but the Lord hath taken great pains on me, to train me up for this
great work. I bless His holy name, that ever He counted me worthy
of such honour. His love hath been to me beyond many.

" I have been a long time a prisoner, and have been altered of
my prison. I was among and in the company of the most part who
suffered since Bothwell ; and was in company wth many ensnaring
persons, though I do not question but they were godly folk. And
yet the Lord kept me from hearkening to their counsel. Glor}', glory
be to His holy and sweet name. Oh 1 but it is many a time my

Robert Garnock. 195

wonder, how I have done such and such things. But it is He that
hath done it. He hath done all things well, both in me, and for me.
Holy is His name. Oh 1 if I could get my royal King Jesus cried
up, and all the world down! Oh ! will ye fall in love with Christ,
friends ? what ails you at Him, and His sweet cause ? I can assure
you He is no hard master to serve. Oh ! He is lovely ! ' He is
white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousands.'

" I desire that none of you think I suffer as an evil doer, or
as a busybody in other men's matters ; or that it is out of blind
zeal, that I am come here this day. No, for it was after serious
consideration that I did it, and after great weights and pressures.
It was great grief of soul to me, to see my Master's truth so wronged,
trampled on, and abused by a God-daring generation, and none to
speak for Him. And now my Lord is highly honouring me for that.
Glory to His great name for it ! For He hath honoured me and my
neighbours with irons, and the thieves' hole, which were sweet and
refreshful to us ; and then honoured us wonderfully to go in before
these bloody men and get our sentences.

" Our interrogations are known. I have not time to write them.
But I disowned them for disowning of the Co\'enant, and I adhered to
my protestation given in against them ; and now am come to the
Gallowlee, to lay down my life, and to have my head cut off and put
upon a port. It is known, how barbarously I have been used by them,
and how honourably such a silly \i.e., feeble] wretch as I am hath
been carried through. Glory be to His sweet name for it ! Indeed, it
was the bargain betwixt Christ and my soul long since, that through
His strength I should be for Him, and at His bidding, whatever piece
of work He put in my hand. And He promised, that His grace
should be sufficient for me ; and that His strength should be seen in
my weakness ; and that go whither I would, He would go with me
through fire and water, the flames should not scorch me, nor the
waters overflow me. Oh 1 take Him, sirs ; for He is faithful who
hath promised, and He will perform.

" Now, as a dying martyr for Christ, I would leave it on all of
you, to make haste, and prepare for strokes, for they are at hand ;
and do not think that they will not come because they are delayed.
No, He will come, and that as a thief in the night, and will surprise
many of you, if not all. ' Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation.' I would not have you secure, but take warning in time,
before His wrath break forth. He hath waited long on Scotland's

1 96 A Cloud of Witnesses.

repentance. It is like, He will not bear much longer. Do not sleep
as do others, but arise, make haste, get on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand. It is dangerous now to be out of God's
gate [/>. way]. It is not good, siding with God's enemies. It wU be
dangerous to be found in their camps. I would not be in their stead,
for all the gold of Ophir, who have saved their lives with prejudice
to the work and people of God. I would have them take warning.
They say, they have done nothing but what was lawful and right.
But they commit transgression, and (with the whore) wipe their mouth
and say, they have done no evil. Indeed they may put off men so.
But they will not get God and their own consciences put off. They
need never go about the bush ; for I see not how any that is faithful,
being once brought before them, can win \i.e., get] honestly off; for if
ye will but say, ye disown their authority, then your life must go.
For tliey had as little to lay to my charge as to any, yet I could not
win off with a good conscience, but to the gallows I must go. And
glory to His great name, who hath honoured me, or that ever He
gave me a head to be set on a port for His sweet name and cause !

^' Now as for what I own or disown, I, being straitened by reason
of the want of time, cannot get it set down here. And another thing I
see, that martyrs' testimonies are of no value, and wtxy lightly esteemed.

" I give my testimony to the holy and sweet Scriptures, Cove-
nants, Confession of Faith, which are according to the Scripture,
Catechisms Larger and Shorter, the Acknowledgment of Sins and
Engagement to Duties, and to all that our worthies have done in
defence of the Gospel, at Pentland, Loudon Hill, Bothwell Bridge,
and Airsmoss ; to Rutherglen Testimony, and Sanquhar Declaration,
Queensferry papers, and Torwood Excommunication, the Fife Testi-
mony, D — ie, K — le, and P — s Protestations, and all that hath been
done in defence of the Gospel, wherever it hath been done.

" And I, as a dying martyr for the truth, give my testimony against
all the encroachments on our Lord's rights, in less or more ; as Popery,
Prelacy, Erastianism, and Indulgences first and last, and all that side
with them. And I, as a dying witness for Christ, desire friends to the
cause of Christ, to beware of them ; for, if it were possible, they
would deceive the veiy elect. They will neither enter the kingdom
of heaven themselves, nor will they suffer others to go in thereat.
Beware of their fair speeches, for they and the devil thought to have
made me break with my lovely Lord Jesus Christ, that noble bargain
betwixt Him and my soul. Oh ! but tlie professors of this generation

Robert Garnock. 197

are evil and bitter against the sweet way of the Lord, and His poor
people.

" Next, I give my testimony against all the enemies of God, and
all that join with them, in paying cess, locality, militia-money, or
whatever is for the strengthening of their hands. And now I leave it
again on you, that ye would not brand me with having a hand in my
own death. For I could not get my life saved, unless I had taken
upon me all the blood of the people of God, and owned that as
lawful authority, which had taken away my dear brethren's lives, and
said, that it was just and right what they had done. And indeed,
they seek no more of any, if they will but own them in what they do.
They think, they are right enough in taking away our lives, when
they who are called Presbyterians own them, and their tyranny, to be
authority. And now when I am to go my way, I would have you to
lay to heart how deeply owning of them draws; and how much of the
wrath of God ye draw on you, in so doing. Oh ! sirs, I would have
you beware, and look what a weighty business it is, and obey God
rather than man.

" I bless the Lord, I am this day to step out of time into eter-
nity. And I am no more troubled, than I were to take a marriage
in the earth, and not so much. I bless the Lord, I have much peace
of conscience in what I have done. Oh ! but I think it a very
weighty business, for me to be within twelve hours of eternity, and
not troubled. Indeed, the Lord is kind, and hath trained me up for
this day ; and now I can want Him no longer. I will get my fill of
love this night ; for I will be with Him in paradise, and get a new
song put in my mouth, the song of Moses and of the Lamb. I will
be in amongst the general assembly of the first-born, and enjoy the
sweet presence of God, and his Son Jesus Christ, and the spirits of
just men made perfect. I am sure of it.

" Oh ! dear friends, I would, as one going to eternity, obtest you,
that you make good earnest in religion, and be restless until you get
a clearness of an interest in Christ ; for it is a dangerous time to live
in the dark. I would have you consider what a weighty business it
is to deny the Lord of glory before men. There have strange things
of this nature fallen out, in this our day. Oh ! look to yourselves, I
would entreat you, to be for God, and He will be for you \ confess
Him and He will confess you. As good soldiers endure hardness ;
wax valiant in suffering. Resist unto blood, for it is the cause of
God that is at stake.

1 98 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" Oh ! there are none of you lamenting after God. Ah ! is there
none of you that hath love to the Lord, and will take part with Him,
against all His enemies ? Oh ! but it be sad, to see you with such
whole hearts, and so little grief among you, for the robbery that the
Lord of glory is getting. I declare my suffering is nothing; but when
I see you who are professors, what an unconcerned people ye are, it
makes my soul bleed to see you in such a frame, when the Church is
in such a condition. I wish the Lord may help poor young ones,
that are brought uj) under you with the want of the Gospel. Oh ! for
the Gospel back again to Scotland ! Oh ! for one faithful minister in
all the land ! Oh ! but the harvest be great, and the labourers few I
As for my part, now when I am going to eternity, I declare, I see
not, nor hear not of a minister in all Scotland, who is at the duty
the Lord calls for at ministers' hands, in preaching against all sort of
sin, in season, and out of season, rebuking and reproving, and
exhorting. As for my part, I cannot join with them who are not so.

" Now my Lord is bringing me to confonnity with Himself, and
honouring me after my worthy pastor, Mr James Guthrie, although I
knew nothing when he was alive ; yet the Lord hath honoured me
to protest against Popery, and to seal it with my blood ; and He
honoured him to protest against Prelacy, and to seal it with his blood.
The Lord hath kept me in prison to this day, for that end ; his
head is on one port of Edinburgh, and mine must go on another.

" Glory, glor}' to the Lord's holy and sweet name, for what
He hath done for me. Oh ! set days apart, and bless His holy
and never enough exalted name, for what He hath done for me.
Oh ! sirs, His cross hath been all paved over with love to me
all along, and it is sweeter now than ever. Oh ! will ye be per-
suaded to fall in love with the cross of royal Jesus ? Oh I take
Him. Will ye be entreated to come and taste of His love ? Oh !
sweet lot this day, for me to go to a gibbet for Christ and His cause I
I think the thoughts of this do ravish my heart and soul, and make
me to fall out in wondering that I am within so few hours of that end-
less joy; that paradise, among these flowers and trees, that are on each
side of that pure river clear as crystal, where the tree is that bears
twelve manner of fruits, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing
of the nations.

" Oh ! that I could leave this weight upon you ; yea, with as
great weight as it lies on my spirit, to see how few of you are
travelling to that land. Oh ! be much above, and be here as

Robert Garnock. 1 99

strangers, — I mean, in respect of conformity to this world, though
liated of it — and studying to live the life that our Lord hath com-
manded in His word ; and sufier affliction with the people of God
rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Now I bless
the Lord, I am not, as many suspect me, thinking to win heaven by
my suffering. No, no ; I know there is no winning of it but through
the precious blood of the Son of God.

" Now, ye who are the true seekers of God, and so the butt of
the world's malice, oh ! be diligent and run fast. Time is precious.
Oh ! make use of it, and act for God. Contend for the truth. Stand
for God against all His enemies. Fear not the wrath of men. Love
one another. Wrestle with God mutually in societies. Confess your
faults one to another. Pray one with another. Reprove, rebuke,
exhort one another in love. Slight no commanded duty. Be faithful
in your stations, as ye will be answerable at the great day.

" Now, having no more time, I bid farewell to you all. Farewell,
holy and sweet Scriptures, wherewith I have been refreshed many a
day. I would have you read much of them, and pray over them to
the Lord, that ye may get His blessing with, and the right use of
them. Oh ,! make use of your Bibles, my dear friends, so long as
you have them. Seek not counsel from men. Follow none further
than they hold by truth. Now I request you, have a care ; this
land is like to come under great errors.

" Now, farewell sweet reproaches for my lovely Lord Jesus ; though
once they were not joyous, but grievous, yet now they are sweet ; I
bless tiie Lord for it. I heartily forgive all men for anything they
have said of me ] I pray that it may not be laid to their charge in the
day of accompts [/>., accounts]. As for what they have done to God
and His cause, I leave that to God and their own consciences.

" Farewell, all Christian acquaintances and relations, father and
mother, brethren and sisters. Farewell, sweet prison for my royal
Lord Jesus Christ ; it is now at an end. Farewell, all crosses of one
sort or another ; and so farewell, everything in time — reading, pray-
ing, and believing. Welcome eternal Hfe, and the spirits of just men
made perfect. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into tliy
hands I commit my spirit.

" Sic subsmbiti/r,

" ROBERT GARNOCK."

■'=^

#'Er='-

Patrick Forman.

TTTLE else is known of Patrick Forman than that he was of
the parish of Alloa, and was tried and suffered along with
^ Robert Garnock. Patrick Walker tells of his being a hearer
of Gargill at a fast-day service held at Loudon Hill, May 5, 1681.
At the close of the afternoon sermon, a cry was raised, " The enemies
are coming upon you," and immediately the dragoons came in sight.
All fled. A shot fired at Cargill missed him, but the ball ploughed
its way through Patrick Forman's hair, doing him, however, no other
harm. Soon after this escape he was apprehended. He was charged
with disowning the king. According to the account given by his
enemies of his declaration before the Council, a knife was found on
him with the inscription, " for cutting tyrants' throats." This may
be the reason why his right hand was ordered to be cut off before
death. — Ed.]

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Patrick Formax, who
lived in Alloa, and suffered at the Gallowlee, October
10, 1681.

" I THOUGHT it fit, being sentenced to die within
three days, to write this testimony, to show you that I
die not as a fool ; and I declare I am in my right
mind, and not prodigal of my life, as some allege ; but
I love life as well as any, and would do as much to
save it. But when my life comes in competition Avith the truths of
Jesus Christ, I dare not buy it with the denial of the smallest of truths
(if any of them may be called small), but know, that the least of the
truths are of greater moment than the whole world and the inhabitants
thereof Now, therefore, do not asperse me, when I am gone, with

Patrick Foi'man. 201

not being a Presbyterian ; for (though in great weakness) I am a Pres-
byterian, both in profession and practice, though my faihngs be many.

" I. I beUeve that there is but one God \ Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost ; one Redeemer ; one way of salvation ; and that it is through
Jesus Christ, according to that word (John xiv. 6), 'Jesus saith unto
them, I am the way, and the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto
the Father, but by Me.' And likewise I leave my testimony to the
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament ; and my soul desires
to bless the Lord that ever they were in our mother tongue. My soul
hath been refreshed in conversing with them, when the Spirit of the
Lord has backed them. But I know likewise, they are but a killing
letter, Avithout the Spirit. Yet this I would advise you, as a dying
martyr for Christ, to search the Scriptures and seek the Lord's mind
in them ; for there are none noble, but these who search the Scrip-
tures. And oh ! that I could recommend them to you, as they have
been sweet and refreshful to me. Yea, they are as a garden of
sweet-smelling flowers; in them are cures for all diseases, and re-
medies for all distempers ; yea, they commend themselves ; they
need none of my commendation. Make good use of them while ye
have them ; for if idolaters get their will, they will not be long
amongst you. 1 pray the Lord may prevent it.

" 2. I leave my testimony to the Confession of Faith, Larger and
Shorter Catechisms, the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engage-
ment to Duties. I bear my testimony to the National Covenant, and
Solemn League and Covenant. Likewise, I adhere to all the faithful
testimonies that have been given for the truth, since the year 1638;
especially the Sanquhar Declaration and Rutherglen Testimony, and
the papers found on Henry Hall at the Queensferry, called the New
Covenant ; and to the lawfulness of Torwood Excommunication, and
all the testimonies of the martyrs who are gone before me according
to the truth, both in fields, on scaffolds, and in the seas. And like-
wise, I leave my testimony to that poor persecuted remnant, that are
yet left as berries on the tops of the outmost branches, wandering
about, being desolate, afflicted and tormented, groaning under that
sad yoke of tyranny. Oh ! Lord, deliver them in Thine own way and
time, and encourage them now, when there is no encouragement
from men, and their eyes cannot behold their teachers.

"And now, my friends, I tell you, being within a few hours to step
out of time into eternity, that ye beware of casting aspersions on any
of the Lord's people, for owning their duty ; which is, avowing and

202 A Cloud of Witnesses.

declaring Jesus Christ to be King in Zion, head of His people, and
only Lord of our consciences, and declining all powers, which are
contrary to, and inconsistent with, our Lord's kingly power.

" And now I declare I own magistracy, as it is an ordinance of
God, and offered my willing subjection unto them ; but when the
magistrate becomes a tyrant by overturning the whole law of God,
and the just laws of the nation (he or they being once covenanted to
the contrary) then I think it my duty, as I am bound by the Scripture,
and our Covenants, and my own conscience, to show, in my station,
my dislike of the wrongs my lovely Lord and Master is getting. For,
as the Scripture declares, ' There are no powers but of God, and the
powers that be, are ordained of God.' Then consequently that
power cannot be of God, that murders the people of God ; otherwise
ye must say, that the Lord is the author of evil ; which were horrid
blasphemy. Now, therefore, my dear friends, suppose that they will
take away our lives, under the name of treason and rebellion (as they
have done to our brethren these twenty years), yet it is not so; but for
religion and loyalty to our Lord and Master, and to every ordinance
of man, as it is consistent with the law of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as ye would be answerable at the day of our appearance,
when we shall stand naked and bare before the Judge of all the
earth, speak not against us, lest ye be reckoned amongst the
fighters against Jesus Christ ; for I declare, I have owned nothing
but that which is the duty of the whole nation, as well as mine.
And I doubt not, but the Lord will reckon with this generation ere
it be long, for maintaining that throne of iniquity these twenty years.

" And now, I declare as a dying man, that it is but justice that
is come upon this poor nation ; for, when the Lord set them free from
that yoke of bondage they were lying under by that old tyrant Charles
First (who designed to cut off the Lord's people, which he put in prac-
tice, in murdering the Lord's people in Ireland by the hands of the
bloody Papists, and thought to have done so to England and Scot-
land ; but the Lord prevented him, and put a stop to his tyranny, by
suffering men to take away his life, and causing his family to be
banished, and brake the yoke off our neck, and became our Lord,
King, and Head), we soon wearied of the Lord, and cast Him off,
and said, we will have a king to rule over us like the nations ; and
ye may judge whether he has reigned Saul-like or not. And I doubt
not but he shall be taken away in wrath, because he was given in the
Lord's anger; and though his time has been a groaning time, yet his

Patrick Forman. 203

end shall be terrible, and the people shall find the smart of it ; as the
children of Israel did, when they fell at Gilboa.

" Friends, look for sad days, when we are gone. Oh ! therefore,
I entreat you, as ye would tender the glory of God, and desire the
salvation of your own souls, mourn for the wrongs ye have done to
the glory of God, in your owning of that tyrant, who is the malignants'
head and god. And now I am sure, ye are left without excuse, if ye
will not cast him off; and they, who will say he hath power over
civil matters, must say God is unjust, and He is the author of evil;
which were horrid blasphemy.

" The matter of my condemnation is, because I will not yield to
their iniquitous laws, and call tyranny authority, and a constitution
of wickedness a constitution of God ; which I dare not, for my soul,
have the least thought of. And now, my friends, I am to die for
protesting against Popery, and the inbringing of that Papist the Duke
[of York], to defile the Lord's land; and declining their power, be-
cause they had murdered my brethren these twenty years, and testi-
fying against all the wrongs my lovely Lord and Master hath got.
Therefore, I charge you, to beware of speaking against me, or any
of my brethren ; for my head and my right hand shall be a witness
against you, who shall condemn us ; whatever I have been, I am
now highly honoured to witness for Christ's cause.

" And now, my dear friends, I must tell you, that grace is free,
and I am a debtor to free grace, and I am as a brand plucked out
of the fire ; yet my Lord hath loved me with an everlasting love.
And I bless the Lord, I am in my right mind, and have hatred
against no man's person, but in so far as they are fighting against
my God, and plotting against His holy child Jesus ; as it is written.
Psalm ii. 9, ' Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron ; thou shalt
break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'

" I leave my testimony against Charles Stuart, for his breach of
Covenant, and for his setting forth that hellish Act of Supremacy,
whereby he rescinded the law of God, and the just laws of the land,
that he might murder the Lord's people. I likewise leave my blood
upon him, and these bloody Counsellors, Justiciary and assizers, be-
cause they take away my life, and the lives of my brethren, without
a shadow of law or justice ; for there were none of us guilty of action
or crimes, and the protestation we gave them shall be a standing
witness against them.

" I leave my testimony against Prelacy, because they have taken

204 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

upon them the place of lords, which is proper to none but Jesus
Christ ; for we have but one God, one Lord, one Saviour and Master ;
and they have our blood upon their heads.

" I leave my testimony against all the proceedings against the Lord's
people, their murders in the fields, and in the sea, and on scaffolds.

" I likewise leave my testimony against the bringing home of that
tyrant, Charles Stuart, after they knew that he had broken all bonds
that could bind men, and was no more to be believed.

" I likewise leave my testimony against the Duke of York, and
against the reception of him first and last ; because they knew he was
a professed Papist, and was seeking nothing but the lives of the
Lord's people, as his actions declare. First he behoved to have
a draught of these five mens' blood at Magus Muir [Thomas Brown,
Andrew Sword, John Clyde, James Wood, John Waddell. Their
testimonies are in the Appendix to " Naphtali." — Ed. J, and next, of
Mr James Skene, John Potter, Archibald Stewart, and the rest of our
brethren since. Oh ! bloody wretch, he is filling himself drunk with
the blood of the saints ; and when he was declared Viceroy and
High Commissioner, as they call him, he behoved to have a draught
of blood to sit down with, viz., of that faithful minister of Jesus Christ,
Mr Donald Cargill, and the other four.

'' And then they sat down to their Parliament for enacting
these hell-hatched Acts, placing Charles Stuart and his succession
for their God, and that they call law and authority for their Bible.
And now, when they have taken their breath, they must have our
blood to slocken them [/>., quench their thirst]. I leave my testi-
mony against the Parliamenters, and my blood upon them. I am
sure they will find it, and my brethrens', lying heavy upon them.

*•' I likewise leave my testimony against bonders, cess and locality
payers, for strengthening the hands of these wicked ruffians, the
troopers and soldiers, who destroy the Lord's people. Nov/, there-
fore, dear friends, I warn you, as ye would flee from the wrath to
come, shake yourselves of these things, if so be there may be hope.
It may be, if ye be serious, yc will be hid in the day of the Lord's
anger. Take warning, and flee from the wrath that is to come.

" Likewise I leave my testimony against the unfaithfulness of the
watchmen of Scotland, for they have not fed the flock, but fed them-
selves. Therefore I, as a dying man, must tell you, that it will be
a wonder, if ever ye be honoured to be faithful, for your turning
your backs on your Master, when all men are set against Him, and

Patrick For man. 205

your seeking to save your lives when the Lord is calling you to
sufifer, rather than to yield, or quit a hair of the truth. Ye think
nothing to call tyranny lawful magistracy, and by that ye say, that all
the martyrs, who have suffered under tyranny these twenty years,
have suffered justly. If that word be true, * There is no power but
of God ; ' then, certainly, Charles Stuart's power must not be of God,
for his unheard-of murders, perjuries, and adulteries. Now, I say,
those who call him a magistrate, they say that God is the author of
sin ; which is horrid blasphemy ; and I think there are few ministers
in Scotland who are free of that horrid sin, and are not in some sort
guilty of their brethrens' blood ; for ye are an upcast [/>., a reproach]
to poor sufferers. Now, therefore, I advise you to repent, for I shall
wish you no wrong. I might say much to that purpose, but I shall
forbear, only I desire the Lord may forgive you, for your lukewarm-
ness, neutrality, indififerency, and sinful silence, where there is none
to speak for Jesus Christ. And now, I advise you that are His
people, to take warning from me as a dying man, not to join with
them, till their repentance be as visible as their sin hath been. Oh !
seek teachers from the Lord ; for He will not want ministers, when
He hath an errand to send them. Wait on the Lord ; for He doth
all things well.

" Now, my dear friends, who desire to live godly, look out for
tribulation and affliction, and the scourge of tongues, and the envy
and malice of devils.-- The ministers will reproach you, and condemn
you, and the worldly-wise professors will advise you to run at leisure,
and not condemn the godly for their failings. It is true, I grant, the
godly may fall and rise again; but alas! their apostacy in denying
their Master, and defending it, will be found very hard and terrible
in the sight of the Lord.

" Now, I must not tarry, being surprised with shortness of time,
having the king of terrors to grapple with. Only this I say, my dear
friends, make haste, get your peace made with God, and in your
stations contend for Him. Labour to have nothing before your
eyes but the glory of God, and ye shall undoubtedly get employment
of Him. Make it your main work to seek the Lord.

" And now, that I am to step out of time into eternity, I bless the
Lord for the way He hath taken with me ; for all that I have met
with hath been in loving-kindness ; and I can say that, from my
experience, He hath been kind to me in my wanderings and im-
prisonments ; irons and stocks have been made sweet to me ; yea.

206

A Cloud of Wiifiesses.

evil company hath been made useful to me. Yea, these antiscrip-
turists were made instructive to me ; for I saw these four men (I
mean John Gib and his followers) were once as fair on the way, by
appearance, as any I knew. But I see gifts are not graces ; and
now, I think, they are hopeless ; and I advise none that tenders [/>.,
regards] the glory of God to meddle with them ; for they are turned
horrid blasphemers and deniers of the Scriptures. Beware of them,
for I have no time to give you a particular account of them.

" Now, my dear friends, farewell, with whom I have been re-
freshed many times ; the love of God be with you, and carry you
through. Farewell Holy Scriptures, wherewith 1 have been com-
forted. Farewell praying. Farewell sweet imprisonments. Fare-
well sweet stocks and irons, for Christ's sake. Farewell wanderings
and sweet reproaches for my Lord's sake. Farewell sun, moon, and
stars. Farewell day and night. Farewell all created comforts. W'qV
come death, welcome gallows, for Christ's sake. Welcome eternity.
Welcome angels. Welcome spirits of just men made perfect. Wel-
come praises that shall never have an end. There I shall rest
through all the ages of eternity in Emmanuel's land. Welcome
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; into Thy hands I recommend my spirit !
'' Sic subscribitur,

"PATRICK FORMAN."

David Farrie.

IKE his fellow-sufferer, Patrick Forman, little else is known
of David Farrie, besides what he tells in his last Testimony.
He was a stranger to the power of Divine grace till about
four years previous to his martyrdom. According to his confession
before the Council, he disclaimed the king's authority, called him a
tyrant, asserted it lawful to kill murderers, and said the king is a
murderer, because he hath murdered the people of God.

David Fame. 207

At the first field-preaching he ever attended — evidently in 1677
— he says he entered into covenant with the Lord, and at a com-
munion in Irongray he had a clear manifestion of his interest.

This communion was that of which John Blackader, the ejected
minister of Troqueer, gives so graphic an account in his Memoirs.
It took place in the summer of 1678. The services of the Saturday
were held at Meiklewood in Nithsdale, about seven miles from
Dumfries. Blackader preached in the forenoon from i Cor. xi. 24,
" Do this in remembrance of me ;" and John Welch, the ejected
minister of Irongray, in the afternoon ; but his text has not been
recorded. On the Sabbath, the congregation assembled in a small
valley in the Skeoch Hill, Irongray. Here they were secure from
observation, as they were shut in by the rising ground all around
them \ while, from the heights above, sentinels could command a
view of the surrounding country for many miles. Upwards of three
thousand, including " gentlemen from far and near," were present.

" Mr Arnot, late minister of Tongland, lectured in the morning,
and Mr Welch preached and broke up the action, which was his
ordinary. The rest of the ministers exhorted and took their turn at
the table service. Mr Dickson preached in the afternoon. The
whole was, closed in the evening without disturbance. It was a
cloudy and gloomy day, the sky lowering, and often threatening
showers ; but the heavy clouds did not break, but retained their
moisture, as it were to accommodate the work ; for ere the people
got to their houses and quarters, there fell a great rain, which that
night waxed the waters, and most of them had to pass through both
the Cairn and the Cluden."

Just when the large assemblage was about dismissing, an alarm
was given that the dragoons were coming. The men who had anns
— and they made a troop of horse and four or five companies of foot
— instantly made preparation to receive them, and for three hours
remained expecting their approach. But the tidings had either been
false, or the dragoons, alarmed at the large number they found as-
sembled, did not advance, for no enemy appeared.

Next day Blackader preached from Heb. xiii. i, " Let brotherly
love continue," on a hill-side in the same parish, but about four miles
from the Skeoch.

The spot where the communion took place is carefully preserved
by the surrounding inhabitants, in much the same state as it was in
1678. A tenant who some years ago removed a few of the Com-

2o8 A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

munion Stones to build a dyke, was compelled, in order to silence
the voice of his neighbours' indignation, to put them back where he
found them. The stones that were used for seats when receiving
the Sacrament are placed in four rows, each two rows forming one
table, and giving accommodation in all for about an hundred and
twenty communicants. Down the middle of each pair of rows are a
few stones on which boards for the tables were fixed. At the one
end there is a heap or pile of stones about four feet high, on which
the bread and the wine were placed. — Ed.]

> ^4^ <

4;-

HE LAST TESTIMONY of David Farrie, who suf-
fered at the Gallowlee, Edinburgh, October lo, 1681.

" Dear Friends, — I desire to bless the Lord,
that I am sentenced to be a martyr for Christ and His
cause by wicked men, whose actions prove what they
are \ yet glory be to the name of God, that this day I
do not suffer as an evil-doer, but for the testimony of
the truth in owning Jesus Christ as head in His church ; yea, in the
Church of Scotland ; and not only so, but covenanted to be so, as He
was with the children of Israel, in the sight of the nations ; which
Covenant, made betwixt Jesus Christ and this land, I bless the Lord,
that by His strength, I have been enabled to own before all these
accusers of mine, especially the bloody Committee, the bloody
Council, and the dreadful bloody assizers of the people of God, and
givers of them their sentences of death ; all instituted by Charles
Stuart, who was once by his profession, and by his oath, an owner
of that Covenant.

" Now the grounds of my sentence are to be seen in my interroga-
tions before the Committee, Council, and Justiciary, so called. At
which I was asked, if I owned my former speeches. I said, What
I had said, I had said. But in case that any might think, that I
had heart malice at him, whom they call king, I told them, I wished
neither him nor them, nor their souls, any more evil nor {i.e., than]
I wished my own ; but since he had broken the Covenant with God,
and turned out all our ministers, obtruded Prelacy on the Church,

David Farrie. 209

and overturned the whole work of Reformation, I could not own him
as king, and them as judges ; seeing he and his emissaries were pro-
ceeding to bring in Popery into the land. And I disowned them as
my judges, and told them. There was a day coming, wherein they
and I would be arraigned before a Judge, ere it was long, and receive
righteous judgment, and that I, in that day, would be a witness against
them for their unrighteous sentences against the people of God, and
their unrighteous proceedings against us, to take away our lives for
owning and adhering to the word of God and our sworn Covenants.
And when I was asked again the same questions, I answered. What
I had said, I had said ; for I had said as much as would be for the
woe and sorrow of all present, except those that were penitent.

"Now let men judge, whether or not it becomes any to own
Charles Stuart as king, and them as judges, seeing they have broken
the Covenant, and over-turned the work of Reformation, and shed so
much of the people of God their blood ; and not only so, but also
have made a Duke, popish by profession, heir to the crown, to be the
door whereat they may receive Popery into the land. For I think
there are none but in some measure they allow Popery, that will not
witness against and withstand him and them in their proceedings ;
especially that black Test, which that wicked Parliament hath put
forth, among all their other proceedings these twenty years against
God, His work and people ; whereof the overturning our ministry,
and thrusting in of Prelacy, the unlawful Acts of Indulgence, first and
last, the killing and murdering of the people of God in fields, and
scaffolds, and seas, in one place and another, are a witness.

" Oh ! the Great Witness, that is, and will be standing against the
said Charles Stuart, and his unlawful Council and Parliaments, and
all their proceedings ! The Lord, in the second Commandment,
threatens His wrath against the children for the fathers' iniquity,
unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate Him. And
if the Lord visit not the successors of this generation aforenamed
with dreadful judgments, I am mistaken ; yea, and all these that join
and comply with them, either ministers or professors (I mean the
indulged), and all these that bond with the enemies, or give them
clats [/>., scrapings together] of gear for their liberation, when they
are brought to prison upon the account of owning the truth ; or in
any manner of way acknowledge them as magistrates ; I say (with-
out repentance), I see no way that they can miss God's wrath.

" But I think I need not insist much on these subjects ; for all

2 1 o A Cloud of Witnesses.

the warnings they have gotten (which are many) by ministers and
professors, one way or other, especially on scaffolds, since Mr James
Guthrie [of Stirling] to this day, have not been effectual ; their act-
ings prove them to be more hardened in their sin than when they
began. Therefore I think, it seems that the Lord will either give
them no more warnings, or else take them shortly away, or both.
Indeed, He may give them more warnings, but if ever they do the
most part of this generation any good, I greatly question. I mean
these whom I have named ; for I think, with several others who are
gone before me, and are going off the stage by death, that there will
be dreadful judgments to follow on this generation, for breach of
Covenant with God, and open rebellion against Him by these ini-
quitous laws of theirs, in taking away the lives, liberties, and privileges
of the people of God ; and not only so, but in making Charles Stuart
head of the Church, which becomes not him, nor any mortal ; for
Jesus Christ is head of His own Church, and Lord over the con
sciences of men.

" And as for me, I would not have my conscience tied by Charles
Stuart's belt, nor any who are called his subjects, though I were to live
an hundred years ; no, though I could have the whole world for my
pains , for I might as well tie my conscience to the devil and my
own corruptions, as do it, by yielding submission to his iniquitous
laws, by either bond or cess, or anything relating thereto. Now, I
bless the Lord, I hope that He, who hath led me hitherto, will lead
me away from him and his, and my own corruptions, and the devil, ere
the tenth day of this month pass over [/>., the day of his execution].

" And as for my own particular interest, I bless the Lord I am in
some measure as clear of my interest in Christ, as I am that my
pen is writing on this paper. For I hope that the Lord will carry me
honourably through, and give me that which He hath promised ; ay
[i.e., always] when I asked of Him faith. He gave me faith, life, light,
and a heart to believe ; and love to Him, and His glory, interest,
cause, Covenant, and work of Reformation ; and strength to stand,
and withstand my enemies, inward and outward, who many a time
have assaulted and tempted me, striving to drive me away to sin.
Indeed, it is true, I lived most lewdly, ay, till within a little more
nor [i.e., than] these four years.

" Oh ! if I could go to the stage, blessing and magnifying the
Lord that it hath pleased Him to bring me from the devil's fireside,
as it were, and draw me out to hear the Gospel of Christ ! I bless

David Farrie. 2 1 1

the Lord, the first field-preaching that ever I heard, I entered in
Covenant with Him, to follow Him though it should cost me my
life ; and at a communion in Irongray, in Galloway, I had the clear
manifestation of my interest. Oh ! free grace ! oh, free love ! oh, free
mercy ! Oh ! wliat am I, that He hath been so kind to me, oh, me !
oh, poor me ! And not only so, but also when He discovered the
evils of the woeful Indulgence from the Supremacy, that He made it
known to me, and also made me stand and withstand that woeful
evil, and to join with that party, by the Bond found upon Mr Richard
Cameron, whom He honoured to witness against it. And for this, I
desire to bless Him.

" Oh ! I think, it is Scotland's mercy this day, that He hath
opened the eyes of the blind to see these abominations, especially
among the ministers, I mean tlie indulged, and these who plead for
them. Oh ! Scotland's mercy hath been great, that, notwithstanding
of their rebellion and joining with rebels by that Supremacy, the
Lord opened the eyes of the blind, to see these abominations, and
to testify against them. Oh ! I say, this is Scotland's mercy, though
some may think otherwise ; for if the Lord had not opened up that
evil to poor things, it had been a token that He would have gone His
way and not owned His Covenanted land any more. But it is a token
for good yet to the land, that notwithstanding of all our rebellions
against Him by breach of Covenant, He continues yet to discover to
His people what is sin and duty.

" And this also is a token that the Lord will not leave Scotland,
though He may chastise it very sore ; His taking the blood and
lives of His saints on fields, seas, and scaffolds, to witness for His
Covenants ; for the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
And this is another token for good to the Church, that there is a
remnant (though small) that is weeping and lamenting over the
broken case of the Church, and over the unconcernedness of the
people of God ; or of these who say, they are the people of God ; and
that there are so few to keep clean garments, and to wrestle and witness
against the sin of this generation of Covenant breakers and usurpers.
Oh ! sirs, is not this a sweet cordial yet, for all that is come upon
us } Oh ! sirs, take courage, and plead with the Lord, and also,
through His strength, plead with your whorish mother, viz., the in-
dulged, and their deeds, which they have done, and those that plead
for them. Oh ! plead, and plead in patience : let not self rise, let
not passion rise and vex you ; be sober, be not soon angry;

212 A Cloud of Witnesses.

fear not reproaches ; but beware of giving the enemies, or professed
friends, just ground of reproach.

" Walk in the sight of God and man both, without offence ; and
then, if men will be offended, let it be for your duty, and not for your
sin. But oh ! be tender of the glory of God ; let there be no vain
janglings, or foolish and unlearned questions among you, knowing
that they gender strife. Be tender one of another ; do not reprove
every small circumstance, till ye have God with you in your reproof,
and the thing be a known sin. Avoid evil company, and rather draw
yourselves to prayer when alone, and with company when ye can
have the occasion , and miss no occasion , for it will be the ready
way to cause the Lord to leave you and the land ; and then woe to
you, if He depart from you. Oh ! invite one another to prayer,
especially young folk , for I think, if the Lord do good to this
generation, it will be to young folk. Oh ! babes and sucklings, set
to the work ; for the Lord hath promised, that, ' out of the mouth of
babes and sucklings He will perfect praise.' Who knows, if ye be
at your duty, but the Lord will yet send teachers who will stand in
the gap, to hold away wrath , but till the Lord send them, stand in
the gap yourselves , and when ye have got them, lay not all the
stress upon them, lest the last plague be worse than the first.

" Oh ! keep warfare against corruptions, and the devil, in every-
thing. Oh ! do not make an idol of the godly, though they be really
godly, zealous, judicious and prudent; I do not mean the prudence
that the deniers of Christ and His kingly office mean. Let God be
your only God, and not another. Use all things to the use of edify-
ing, and strengthening one anothers' hands. Own and maintain
your brother's just cause, when it comes to an hearing, especially in
the matters of God, and receive one another, but not to doubtful
disputations. Join with and own the godly who are penitent, though
there be faults and failings, providing they be sensible of their guilt ;
for the Lord maketh more of one prodigal, or of one lost sheep, that
is come home, or is found, than He doth of ninety-nine, who went
not astray. So ought ye to do among yourselves : but beware of
any sinful union.

" Do not grip after ministers, till they at least come to take
up the work where Mr Donald Cargill left it. Ye will not find
them honest till ye find them so , for I know there is none who
will venture all for Christ and His cause, (I mean their lives, liberties
and fortunes,) till they be such : and there are none but such who

David Fari'ie. 2 1 3

can be counted faithful ; for He hath said, ' He that loveth father or
mother, wife or children, houses or lands, better than Me, is not
worthy of Me ;' and that they who do so, ' cannot be My disciples.'
Therefore you must of necessity look to these things among your-
selves, till the Lord send shepherds who will search for the flock,
and not reave nor tear the flock in delivering them into the hand of
their enemies ; as we have the sad experience of it this day, Oh ! I
would not be in the case of the ministers of Scotland this day, for the
world.

" Consider Luke xvii. 10 : 'So likewise ye, when ye shall have
done all these things which are commanded you, say, " We are un-
profitable servants!" ' Let the law of God be your rule ; and when ye
have done all to keep tlie law, yet consider that it cannot merit any
good thing ; but you must lean only to the merits and sufferings of
Jesus Christ ; but yet the law must be observed and obeyed. It is
true, no mere man is able perfectly to keep the commandments of
God ; but let not this be your snare, for it is the snare of many of this
generation. Oh ! sirs, study the Scriptures. Walk by the strictness
of the law of God, and the liberty of the gospel of peace ; but do not
abuse your liberty, to cause the way of God to be evil spoken of.

" I speak as a dying man ; that which I have learned from the
word of God, and the turnings of dispensations. Oh ! He hath taught
me, by His word and gospel, and the teaching of His Spirit, many
things that I cannot express ; not one of a thousand. Oh ! He hath
filled my mouth many a time with arguments, till I could go no further;
I desire to speak it to the commendation of free grace. Oh ! if the
enemies knew what true grace was, they would not do as they do.
But truly I think the judgment shall be terrible that they shall be
trysted \i.e., visited] with. Oh ! it hath been weighty to me, to think
on their destruction and misery, which I have thought upon many a
time to be eternal ; and yet I have thought, upon the other hand,
that it was my duty, when God's justice passed the sentence, to say,
Amen (as it were) and so have desired that the Lord would let His
determination be executed upon them.

" Now, there needs none of the suffering remnant be discouraged,
for God is God, and His Word is His Word ; and there is no change
of times, nor alteration of dispensations, but the Word will clear all,
in some place of it ; and there is no sin that can be committed, but
there is a reproof in the Word of God to suit it ; nor one objection
in the heart, but there is an answer for it from the ^Vord : so study

2 14 ^ Clo7id of Witnesses.

the Word of God, and implore His presence in reading of it.
Make much use of the Confession of Faith, the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms ; mmd our Covenants, National and Solemn
League. Be not drawn away with the tyranny and perjury of the
time. Know that God is God, and that He will not sit with \i.e.,
endure] the wrongs He hath gotten by the tyranny and perjury of
these men ; I mean him whom they call supreme magistrate, Charles
Stuart, and these under him. God be thanked, His Church is well
quit of him ; though a gallows be set up for the Church, and all the
Jews, yet it is like, Haman must have a swing of his own weight on
the gallows he hath prepared, or else some more disgraceful death.
Mind Rutherglen Testimony and Sanquhar Declaration, and the
papers found at the Queensferry. Do not think that these will fall
to the ground. Mind our martyrs' testimonies, and everything
consistent with the word of God.

" Do not think, but God will be about [/>., deal] with this
generation, for setting so light of such things, and casting them behind
their backs. For I declare, I adhere to every sound writing that is
according to the word of God, be the author who will ; I say, I
declare it as a dying man. Indeed this generation think no better
sport, than to take any person and cast him into prison ; and if they
but find (when they have searched them most barbarously) a paper
that there is any religion in, be they man or woman, lad or lass,
presently they impeach them with treason ; yea, but I am sure of this,
that God will not sit with \i.e.y endure] such things, but He will be
about with them, be who they will. Oh ! but it is sad to see such
things; this land doubtless is ripening for a stroke, and a judgment
will pursue it. Oh ! who would have thought that Scotland would
have quit with their covenanted God, and have trode upon all who
have the image of God in any manner to be seen in them.

" It is true, all things work to the good of them that love Him.
It is this that makes a prison, a banishment, a gallows where none
uses to be hanged but murderers, sweet indeed. They think it will
be for our disgrace, ignominy and shame, to take us to the Gallowlee
to be executed ; but they are all beguiled ; it will be for our honour ;
our God is ^vise enough for all that. They think it is the disgrace
of the Presbyterians in Scotland, to have our heads hanging, and to
be hanged up before the sun. Nay, but they are all beguiled • for it
will be recorded from one generation to another, that there was a
party of ministers and people, who sealed the Covenant with their

y antes Stuart,

215

blood, and their heads were set up for a token of the Lord's kind-
ness to the land. But, for my part, I think myself unworthy to be
reckoned among such \ yet I hope that it shall be said amongst them
in these days, that, if there had not been a party to suffer in our cities,
they would have had nothing but vile Popery in the land, and [there]
will be rejoicing that ever there was any to suffer for Christ in Scot-
land. Oh ! Scotland, is there any land so highly honoured as thou
art? None that is to be seen or heard of; but yet thou hast been of
all nations the most treacherous and bloody. Was ever a land so
bloodthirsty !

" I can say no more ; but oh ! be earnest with God, and do not
leave off your duty, or otherwise I can see nothing but that the
dreadful judgment of God shall both pursue you and the land.
Indeed, if ye remain at your duty, it may be that ye shall prevail with
tlie Lord, both for yourselves and for the land. But I must leave
you to Him, who is your God, to lead and guide you in all truth and
honesty, both towards God and man , so I leave you to Him.
Now farewell, thou vile Scotland ; farewell thou highly honoured
Scotland. Farewell ye friends in Christ, and all friends and acquain-
tances. Farewell life, and liberty in this life. Welcome Christ,
heaven and eternal salvation, for ever and ever !
" Sic siibscribitnr,

"DAVID FARRIE."

James Stuart.

'ODROW'S account of James Stuart is — " He was a young
man, I might almost have termed him a boy. of good and
serious inclinations, who had never been, as far as I can
learn, engaged in anything for which the law could have reached him.
He came in from the west country to see a relation of his [a brother]
in prison at Edinburgh. By what means, I know not. the other got

2 1 6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

out, and he was found in the room whence the other escaped. Where-
upon he was brought before a committee of Council, and soon ensnared
by their questions. When he was silent in some heads, and would not
answer, some papers before me bear that Sir George Mackenzie
threatened to take out his tongue with a pair of pincers. [Stuart states
this in his testimony.] Precisely upon his answers he was con-
demned, and in a few days after was taken and executed with the
rest at the Gallowlee." — Ed.]

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of James
Stuart, who suffered at the Gallowlee, Edinburgh,
October loth, i68i.

" Dear Friends, — I being in prison for Christ, and
His persecuted cause, though some may say otherwise,
and that upon the account of my taking ; but I do
not care what anv say, for I have had, and yet have,
great peace in my sufferings.

" But some will be ready to say, that it was an imprudent and
an unsure action, and so might have been forborne ; and suppose it
be so, it is not the head of my suffering, for it was not that upon which
I was staged \i.e., accused] ; for I was presently staged for the truth,
the next day after I was taken, being brought before a committee,
though indeed I was not so free as I should have been. There is a
passage. Acts xxi., of Paul's going up to Jerusalem, which some say
he might have forborne — but more especially his going up to the
temple and doing these things which are according to the law. He
might (I say) have forborne this, and walked consonant to his former
practice, doctrine, and writings ; but though his going to the temple
was the occasion of his taking, yet it was not the head of his
suffering.

" So I say, though that which I did in relieving my brother was
the occasion, yet my suffering was stated on another head. But I
cannot see how it is as ye say, for I, seeing it my duty, and finding
opportunity, had a clear call for all that I did. And besides all that,
we being bound in covenant to defend and maintain one another, we

yames Stuart. 2 1 7

are bound as well to relieve one another out of prison, when there is
a probability seen.

" But I need not stand much in making this out, it being the
way that the Lord took to bring me to my suffering. And I am
heartily content with my lot, and desire with my soul to bless Him for
it. Though I was dreadfully aspersed, when that Bond of liberation
was offered to us ; for though some had clearness to take it, yet I
could never have thoughts of taking it in peace ; and I bless the
Lord who kept my hand from it. It was neither strength nor sharp-
sightedness in me, that withheld me from yielding to the temptation ;
but the Lord hath showed Himself graciously favourable and kind
unto me now, when I am set up like a beacon upon the top of an
hill, and the eyes of many being upon me, and all are wondering at
me, and calling me distracted, and saying I am a fool ; but, the Lord
be thanked ! I have all the senses that ever I had ; though distressed,
yet I despair not.

" Neither am I suffering as a fool , for I know assuredly this is the
way to obtain the promise. There is nothing in it meritorious, I con-
fess ; for all my suffering He may put me into hell. But I say, the
suffering of reproaches, and the scourge of tongues, is a symptom or
mark of His way Avhen it is for His sake ; ' Blessed are ye, when men
shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for My sake' (Matt. v. 11). It is for His name's
sake that I am suffering, and this confirms me of it : ' Ye shall be
hated of all men for My name's sake ; but he that endureth to the
end shall be saved' (Matt. x. 22).

" Now, it is for Christ's kingly office that I am suffering ; and
this being the main head on which my suffering is stated, even that
great truth, viz., that Jesus Christ is king and head of Zion , I desire
and charge you to beware of misconstructing my sufferings, and say-
ing, that I was suffering for disowning of authority, and declining of
judges ; for it is not so, I being a Presbyterian in my judgment, and
owning both magistracy and ministry, according to the word of God,
and as He hath ordained them. But if Charles Stuart's authority
be according to the word of God, I am mistaken. If he be exercis-
ing his power to the terrifying of evil doers, and the encouraging of
them that do well, I die in an error. I say, beware of your judging ;
for I am a Presbyterian in my judgment, and a member of the Church
of Scotland, and am to seal it with my blood.

" I adhere to that blessed transaction, between the Father and the

2 1 8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Son, that holy device devised from all eternity, the Father to send His
Son, and tlie Son to come and satisfy Divine justice, and so redeem
lost man.

" I adhere to all the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament,
which are all standing in force until this day, and obligatory upon us,
except the ceremonial law, with a part of the judicial, which is now
abrogated and abolished by our Lord's coming, He being the end of
the law.

" I adhere to our glorious work of Reformation, Confession of
Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Acknowledgment of Sins and
Engagement to Duties ; though they be abused and misconstructed
by many. And I adhere to the Sum of Saving Knowledge, wherein
is held forth the life and marrow of religion.

" I adhere to all the testimonies that have been given ; Mr [James]
Guthrie, Argyle, and Warriston. They gave in their testimony accord-
ing to the light that the Lord gave them ; and I do not condemn
their testimony (as some say), for, at some times the Lord gives more
light than at other times ; and so it cannot be said, that we contra-
dict or disown their testimony, though it hath pleased the Lord,
through continuance of time, to give more light of the abounding
abominations that are still growing and abounding in this genera-
tion ; and so, whatever they omitted through want of that light,
which it hath pleased the Lord to let us see, makes no contra-
diction.

" I adhere to the Rutherglen and Sanquhar Declarations. I
adhere to the paper found upon Mr Richard Cameron at Airs-
moss, July 22, i68o. I adhere to the papers that were found at
the Queensferry upon Henry Hall. I adhere to any writings that
are according to the Word of God, for truth is truth, come by whom
it will.

" Now, as a dying man, I adhere to all these things. And, I
having received an unjust sentence from men, for owning and adher-
ing to the same, and for protesting against the inbringing of Poperj^
to defile the land, and likewise upon these accounts, I disown Charles
Stuart to be my king and sovereign. First, Because of that hellish
Act of Supremacy, and that Act Rescissory, whereby they have over-
turned and wrested all the laws, acts, and constitutions of the land ;
for in the foresaid act, he assumeth that unto himself, which belongs
properly to our Lord and Master, and says that he rules over all things,
both spiritual and temporal ; and then, when he hath made himself

James Stuart. 2 1 9

supreme over all things, he rescinds the laws that are of God, and sets
up other laws, to satisfy his own lusts, in murdering, killing, and de-
stroying the Lord's people ; and this is the reason why I disown him ;
and likewise his dreadful prejury and blasphemy in his Covenant-
breaking. I decline them as judges, for the opening a door there to
Popery, which they have done, by receiving that popish Duke in
among them, which I protest and leave my testimony against ; it
being contrary to our engagements, to suffer Papists to dwell amongst
us, and to have a professed Papist to usurp over us ; it being repug-
nant to our principles.

" I leave my testimony against Prelacy, it being a limb of that
antichristian whore of Rome. I leave my testimony against all the
abominations of this generation, as blaspheming of the holy name
of the Lord, drunkenness, stealing, whoring, sodomy, and all manner
of uncleanness. I leave my testimony against all indifferency
and lukewarm neutrahty in our Lord's matters. I leave my testi-
mony against the Indulgences first and last, as having a greater
hand in the breaking of the Church of Scotland, nor \i.e., than]
all the enemies living in it could have done ; for they sold their
Master's truths, and did give away their pleasant things with their
own hands, and so came in under Charles Stuart, and took him
for their head, and have cast off their rightful head Jesus Christ ;
and have put all things under his [Charles Stuart's] feet, and have
given him to be head over all things to the Church. Woe will
be unto them, for what they have done to the poor Kirk of
Scotland.

" I leave my testimony against silent and unwatchful ministers.
Remember, there are many taken away, and, it is to be feared, in their
iniquity ; and do ye think that ye are free of their blood ? Ye may
look what warning ye have given, and if it be faithful, then ye may
say, that ye are not guilty. But there is not a minister this day, who
dares say he is at his duty. They refuse to give counsel when asked
at, as I myself can v/itness ; for when that liberation was granted, I
sent to one of them, and charged him, as I judged him faithful, to
tell me his mind, which he refused ; and said, ' Silence might serve for
an answer, I was not suffering for truth.' But I heartily forgive him,
and all men, what they have done to me, as for my own particular ;
but how they have reproached Christ and His way, it is not mine to
forgive them.

" Oh! the ministers of Scotland are become light and treacherous

2 20 A Cloud of Witnesses.

persons, as well as revolters. They are become ravening wolves ; so
I cannot see how they have not unministered themselves. \.{ Abia-
thar was turned out of the priest's office for leaving David, and follow-
ing Adonijah, how much more ought the ministers of Scotland, for
leaving of Him who is the true head of the Church, and choosing
Charles Stuart for their head ? It is not long since they were preach-
ing that to be sin which they are now practising.

"I have no doubt, but ere long, there shall come out fire from
Abimelech, and destroy the men of Shechem, and fire from them,
and devour him. And ere long, Mr Donald Cargill and Mr Richard
Cameron, their names, that now stink among ministers and professors,
shall have a sweet smell ; and these that calumniate and asperse
them, their names shall go away with a stink, and flee away with a
smoke. But I am sure, that the now glorified martyr, Mr Donald
Cargill, his name shall last from generation to generations ; and he
shall have cause to rejoice in his King, Head, and Master, who is
Jesus Christ, when those who condemned him shall not know where
to flee for shelter, and shall be weary of their head, king, and master,
who is Charles Stuart. And what brethren (disaffected as they were)
did cast upon him as a shame, was his glory and decorment. He
was of a high heroic spirit, and was free of a base and Simonian
carriage. He was a man hated of his brethren ; but the great Elijah
in his time was so. Time and tongue would fail me, to speak to his
commendation. He was the man who carried the standard, without
the help of any visible ; but he had the help and assistance of his
Master, at whose command he was aye [/>., always] wandering here
without residence ; yet knew of one above, and had full assurance of
his dwelling-place.

" I leave my testimony against uplifting, or causing uplift, cess or
excise, or anything for the maintaining that tyrant, or any of his
emissaries ; it being for nothing but maintaining these ruffian troopers
and soldiers, who are kept for nothing but to suppress and bear down
the Gospel, and banish it out of the land. I leave my testimony
against all declaration takers and bonders, especially the taking that
Bond of Liberation, as they call it, of the date of August 5, 1680, as
far as they were convinced it was sin, as some of themselves said it
was. I leave my testimony against that Test, and all the rest of their
])roceedings, and Acts of Parliament.

" I leave my testimony against jailor-fee paying ; it being an
acknowledgment of their tyranny to be lawful, which, how unjust it is.

y antes Stuart. 2 2 1

I have a proof among others ; for that night that I was before York
and the rest, being October ist, 1681 (I being examined by Sir George
Mackenzie), York and Mr WiUiam Paterson coming unto me, when I
was silent, and would not answer to some things they asked at me ;
he threatened to take out my tongue with a pair of pincers, if I would
not ; and he held him as a witness against me. And though I told
him, that he was a judge the other night, and would ye hold him as
a witness against us before your Justiciary? yet they did it 3 which
was neither according to law nor reason. If there were no more but
that one passage, it proves them to be unjust judges, as there are
many worse than that is.

" I leave my testimony against the mounting of militia, and up-
lifting of money for his service. I leave my testimony against every-
thing that may strengthen his hands, or weaken the hands of the
people of the Lord.

" Now, I desire you, as a dying man, who am within forty-eight
hours, or little more, of eternity, to disown Charles Stuart to be your
king and sovereign. I charge you so to do, as you would have peace
with God ; for I never knew what true peace was, till I did it, and
took Jesus Christ for my king and lawgiver. This is not that I dis-
own kings or kingly government, for I own both : but when their
actions are such as his are, and a covenanted king as he was, we
cannot in conscience yield to him. For he hath murdered the Lord's
people our brethren ; and when we acknowledge even his civil
authority, I cannot see in what way we are clean of their blood, it
being by a shadow of law and authority that he takes away their lives,
and so we cannot own him in that ; and to own him in ecclesiastic
matters, I think there will be none so absurd as to say we should
do that, he having nothing to do in Church matters ; he only received
the sceptre in his hand, to be a hedge about, and to defend her
against all opposition ; and now ye may see how he hath destroyed
her instead of defending her.

" I give you it in short, and desire you to ponder and consider it,
and ye will not find me so mad, as many of you say I am ; for I am
not prodigal of my life, neither have I a hand in my own death , for
I love my life as well as my neighbours, and it is as dear to me as
any of yours is to you. But when it comes in competition with my
Lord's truths, I dare not seek to save my life with prejudice there-
unto. Neither am I wearied of my life, though it is true, indeed,
there is nothing here to be coveted, that is not enough to weary one.

222 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Neither am I wearied of it ; therefore I charge you, that ye do not
brand me with aspersions when I am gone.

" I leave my blood on all the assizers, who, after we had given
in our protestation against all their proceedings, both in their Council
and Justiciary, and told them that it was for no action that we were
suffering, but only on the matters of conscience and judgment that we
were pannelled ; yet, notwithstanding of our charging them with our
blood, they most unjustly took away our lives. Do not think that
this flows from a spirit of malice, spite, bitterness, or revenge ; for I
desire to bless the Lord, I am free of the spirit of bitterness and
revenge ; but that they take away my life without and against any
just law, I cannot get it passed.

" Do not think that I am enthusiastic, and take on me a bare
impulse of the spirit for a call to suffer on, or the word as it lies
literally, for a call ; for it is not so ; I having desired and used some
endeavours, though it has been in great weakness, I confess. Yet,
I dare say, in some respect my desire to the Lord about it hath been
sincere, that He would help me to get His word and my own con-
science consulted, and to try the word by the spirit, and the spirit
by the word ; for it is but a dead letter without the spirit.

" And likewise, my blood is lying, and will be heavy upon that
Popish Duke. And I will not say, but the Lord will permit him to
usurp the crown of Scotland ; but the blood that he hath got to wel-
come him home to it, and to satisfy his own lust, will weight him
down from the throne ; but, indeed, I fear that he get his design
drawn to a great length, and get the ark carried away, even to your
apprehension, out of Scotland, But remember the Philistines carry-
ing away the ark, and the men of' Bethshemesh looking into it, how
the Lord smote them. And, so I think, when they have got the Church
banished and destroyed, and the witnesses all killed ; when they will
look on the Church as carried clean away, and thereupon shall turn
secure ; will not the Lord be avenged on them, and charge them
with all the blood they have so heinously shed ? But, indeed, we
have deserved no less, than the Lord's leaving of this land, and to
give them into the hands of their enemies ; but as long as there is no
appearance of a better Church in the whole world, ye need not fear
that the Lord will enhance Scotland's right of a Church to any other.
He suffered the children of Israel many a time to fall into and lie
under the hands of tlieir enemies ; but He never forsook them alto-
gether, until there came a better in their place. Likewise my blood

James Stuart. 22,

is on all these Parliamenters and Councillors, and these of the Justi-
ciary, as they call it.

" Now, dear friends, I am going to eternity, ere it be long, from
whence I cannot return, and, as a dying man, I give you warning,
and bid you take heed what you are doing. Be tender of the glory
of God, and take no unlawful gate \i.e., way] to shun suffering, nor
sinful shifts to come by the cross. But when there is a cross lying
in the way, see that ye seek not to go about it 3 and venture upon
suffering before sinning ; for He never sent any a warfare upon their
own charges. If any knew the sweetness of a prison, they would not
be so afraid to enter upon suffering ; ye would not join with the
Lord's enemies, as ye are doing.

" Oh ! dear friends, take warning now, for it is a question if ever
ye get any more warnings of this kind. For it is a sad juncture, or
circumstance of time, that your lot and mine are fallen into ; but now
I am going away home. Oh ! the Lord is kind to me, who hath
honoured me so highly, and is also taking me away from the evil
that is to come ; for indeed I think there are sad days abiding
poor Scotland. Oh ! sirs, be busy and venture all upon Him, and
put all in His hand ; and whatever you have been, let not that scare
you. If you have been a great sinner, I say, let not that hinder you
from coming to Him, and closing with Him ; for the greater sinner
you be, the more free grace is magnified in reclaiming you. I may
speak this from my own experience ; for I was as a brand plucked
out of the fire ; and He hath brought me through many difficulties,
temptations and snares, and made my soul escape as a bird out of
the cunning fowler's net, and brought me to a prison at length, to
suffer bonds for Him. He made all things sweet to me, the company
sweet to me, even bad company; He made reproaches sweet. I
have been made to wonder at His kindness and love to me-ward.
And now He hath brought me this length, without being feared what
enemies can do to me, and that is a great confirmation to me of
true love, that perfect love casts out fear. Now He is faithful, into
whose hand I commit my spirit and soul, and He will keep it against
that day.

" Now when I am going, farewell all friends and Christian ac-
quaintances Farewell sweet and holy Scriptures, wherewith my soul
hath been refreshed. Farewell readmg, singing, and praying. Fare-
well sweet meditation. Farewell sun, moon, and stars. Farewell all
created comforts. Welcome death ; welcome sweet gallows, for my

2 24 ^ Cloud of Wit7iesses.

sweet and lovely Lord. Welcome angels. Welcome spirits of just
men made perfect. Welcome eternity. Welcome praises. Wel-
come immediate vision of the Sun of Righteousness !
" Sic subscribitu}\

"JAMES STUART."

HERE suffered also at the same time and place, one Alex-
ander Russel, whose Testimony differing nothing in sub-
stance from the rest, and being in some things not very
conveniently expressed, it is not thought necessary to be published
at large ; only these heads of it are remarkable.

" I. He declares, That for the space of fourteen years, while he
heard the curates, he was a person given to all manner of licentious-
ness, keeping company with the profane ; drinking, swearing. Sabbath-
breaking, and reproaching the people of God.

" 2. That the first field-preaching ever he heard, to which he
went merely out of curiosity, it pleased the Lord to convert him.

" 3. That the means of his being called out to the help of the
Lord's people at Bothwell, was the death of three of his children
within ten days' space, which extraordinary providence impressed his
heart so, that he durst not sit [?>., disregard] God's call to that work.

" 4. He confesseth his having taken the Bond for living orderly
(as it was called), and with great remorse acknowledges his failing, in
that he took not opportunity to confess that sin publicly. All the
other heads do coincide with the testimonies of the other four who
suffered with him.

[Patrick Walker, who, along with his Defoe-like power of descrip-
tion, is ever finding fault with all others who had written about the
martyrs, now with Wodrow, and now with the compilers of the " Cloud
of Witnesses," blames the publishers for withholding Russel's testi-
mony, and says, " it would have tended much to the commendation
of the riches of the Lord's free grace, in strengthening, supporting,
and comforting him in all his sufferings, and in undergoing a vio-
lent death." Doubtless, however, the reasons the compilers give,
amply justify them for not publishing it. — Ed.]

Robert Gray.

^^OBERT GRAY, an Englishman, was apprehended in June or
^j^i July 1 68 1. From a sentence in the close X)f his testimony,
it is evident that he had been known in Northumberland as

warmly attached to the persecuted cause ; but nothing is said of this
in his indictment. In April 1682, ten months after his apprehension,
he was still in prison in the Canongate Tolbooth, and untried. On
the 1 8th, he wrote the letter (given in a following page) to John Ander-
son, a prisoner in Dumfries. Anderson was a stranger to him, but had
heard of his imprisonment, and written to him. Robert Gray's reply
to this letter fell into the hands of the authorities, and formed the
ground of his ' Interrogations' by a committee of the Council, May 13.
He was tried on the 17th.

His indictment strikingly shows for what little reason life was
taken away in those times. It says nothing of the fact that he had
already been in prison for nine or ten months. After the usual
preamble it proceeds :

"True it is that you, the said Robert Gray, having shaken off
all fear of God and respect to His majesty's laws, did most treason-
ably wTite a letter upon the 18th of April last, to John Anderson,
prisoner also for treason in the Tolbooth of Dumfries, wherein you
did declare our present sovereign, the best and most merciful of
kings, to be a tyrant, and that therefore he ought not be owned as
king.

" Likewise, you did by that letter incite his majesty's subjects not
to obey him, and did deprave the late Act of Parliament made for
taking the Test, calling it the Black Test, and destructive of all the
work of Reformation.

" And you being called before the Lord Chancellor, and a com-
mittee of Council, upon the 13th of May instant, you did of new
again not only adhere to the said letter and all that was in it, but did
of new commit the foresaid crimes, by declaring that you owmed all

2 26 A Cloud of Witnesses.

these principles, and that it was a duty upon you to write so to your
brother who was in prison.

" Of the which treasonable crimes, you, the said Robert Gray, are
guilty and actor, which being found by an assize, you ought to be
punished with the forfeiture of life, lands and goods, to the terror of
others to commit the like hereafter."

He was sentenced to be hanged on the 19th. An account of
his execution is given at the close of his Testimony. James Renwick
was present at his execution. Alexander Shields records that Renwick
told his mother, that, at the last execution which he was witness to
(which was Robert Gray's), he thought, and had a strong impiession
of it, that he himself would be the next that he should see executed.
And therefore, from that time he durst never appear, even though
he was not known at an execution until he was brought to it him-
self.

" Barscob," mentioned in the postcript of Robert Gray's letter
to John Anderson, was Robert M'Lellan, a son or brother of John
M'Lellan, laird of Barscob, who was so prominently concerned in the
rising that ended in the battle of Pentland.

Major Learmont was fined ;j{^2ooo by Middleton's Parliament
in 1662. He commanded in the second attack at the battle of
Pentland. Law, in his Memorials, quaintly but expressively tells the
story of his life: "March 1682, Major Learmont, an old soldier, and
now about seventy-seven years, and a tailor to his trade, who was at
Pentland Hills in the insurrection, 1666, and at Bothwell Bridge
insurrection, 1679, was taken in his own house within three miles of
Lanark, in a vault which he digged under ground, and penned [/>.,
arched] for his hiding. It had its entry in his own house, upon the
side of a wall, and closed up with a whole stone, so close as that none
would have judged it but to have been a stone of the building. It
descended below the foundation of the house, and was in length
about forty yards, and in the far end, the other mouth of it was closed
with fail \i.e., turf], having a fail dyke builded upon it, so that with
ease he shut out the fail and closed it again. Here he sheltered
for the space of sixteen years, by taking himself to it at every
alarm, and many times hath his house been searched for him by
the soldiers, but where he sheltered none was privy to it but his
own domestics ; and at length he is discovered by his own herds-
man. He is carried before the Council, and examined ; confesses
he was at Pentland Hills, and at Bothwell Bridge fight, but came

Robert Gray. 227

only there to advise the people to accept of the Duke of Mon-
mouth's offers he made them in the king's name. He was sen-
tenced on the 8th April, but he was reprieved to the 28th. During
the interval his friends got the sentence changed into perpetual con-
tinement on the Bass Rock. He refused to take the Test, and was
close prisoner for five years. The rigour of imprisonment so told on
his health that his physicians declared he was dying, and he was let
out on bail. Freedom revived him, and he lived to see the Revolution
of 1688 ; and he returned to his own house at Newholm, where he
died shortly afterwards in the eighty-eighth year of his age."

Hugh Macklewraith of Anchen floor, andRobert Fleming, seem
both, as Gray reports, to have taken the Test.

In the Appendix, in the ' Short Relation concerning the Reverend
Mr Richard Cameron,' will be found an explanation of the references
to that martyr, in the course of Robert Gray's Testimony. — Ed.]

> •♦^ <

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Robert Gray, in North-
umberland, who suffered for the truth, in the Grass-
market of Edinburgh, May 19, 1682.

His Interrogations by a Committee of the Council,
May 13.

" Robert Gray being called before the Chancellor
and a committee of Council, appointed for public affairs, and interro-
gated, if he knew John Anderson, prisoner at Dumfries?

" He declared he did not know him, but had writ a letter to him ;
and that letter being produced to him, he owned the same, as he tes-
tified under his hand-write and subscription at the end thereof.

" And being asked, if he thought of the king and government as
is expressed in that letter ?

" He said, he did, and he owned that in his judgment.

" And being asked, if he thought the king a tyrant?

" He said, he had written so, and owned it, and that he wrote this
letter to John Anderson, as his duty to his brother."

228 A Cloud of Witnesses.

OLLOWS the foresaid letter, which was all the ground
of his indictment. [This letter has been corrected
from the indictment as given in Wodrow. — Ed.]

" Dear Friend, — I received yours, and am very
much refreshed to hear of any one in this day that is
holding by the truth, and is helped to witness against
the wrongs done to our Lord and Master, which is the
main thing that we are called to at this time, by which God is glori-
fied, and which shall bring peace to us at the end of the day. As in
answer to that, about owning this t)Tant in ecclesiastic matters, I hope
it is beyond all doubt and debate, with all the zealous exercised Chris-
tians in Scotland, that he should not be owned at all in it \ whatever
the time-servers, that will sail with any wind that blows, do, we are not
concerned ; who are like Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of
pottage.

" And as for owning him in civil things, to me it is very clear,
now as matters are stated, that he should not be owned ; in a word,
for his breach of the civil law, pardoning and setting free murderers
and bougerers, and murdering of poor innocents, and making his will
a law, and placing none in public trust, but such as have taken that
black Test, utterly to disown the whole work of Reformation ; with
which way I cannot meddle directly nor indirectly, without saying a
confederacy with them.

" I cannot tell how much more might be said upon this head, if
time would permit ; but this, I think, with what our late worthies did
in casting this tyrant off, and out of the Church, might give full satis-
faction not to own them in any thing, seeing they have acted for the
devil more than ever ; and the work has prospered in their hand
more than formerly. Indeed, if we consult men at this time, in the
matters of godhness, no wonder we be in the dark ; but, oh ! beware
of that, and flee to the holy word of God. Beware of looking out
at any back-door, or halting between two opinions ; for of a truth
there is a halting this day, that will not be approven of God, in
meddling with this malignant party directly or indirectly. It is a
thousand to one if they see it.

" P.S. — Barscob and Major Learmont got their sentence on

Robert Gray. 229

Friday last, to die on the 28th, and Hugh Mucklevvraith and Robert
Fleming had their sentence that day too, and should have died this last
Wednesday. But they got a remission to the 28th ; and it is reported
that Barscob and the rest have ofifered to take the Test, and they have
sent up to the tyrant upon that account to save their lives. As for
John M'Clurg and Robert N., there is no word yet what is to be
done with them. I shall give you an account afterwards. My soul
is grieved to see the treachery that is used in the matters of God
among the prisoners, and their seeking sinful shifts to shun the cross
of Christ. Oh ! dear friend, seek to be kept steadfast in the day of
trial.

" Now, I can say no more ; but leave you in His hand, who hath
brought you to the trial, and can carry you cleanly through it. I
rest, your fellow prisoner and friend,

"ROBERT GRAY."

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Robert Gray.

" Men and Brethren, — I having got my sentence
of death from men who are unjustly taking away my
life, merely for adhering to my principles, and have no
matter of fact to prove against me, but only adhering
to the truths of Jesus Christ, and testifying against
their sinful laws and actions, which my indictment will
testify ; they take away my life for declining their authority, and
calling Charles Stuart a tyrant, and speaking against their Test, that
they have made to overturn the whole work of Reformation, in call-
ing it the Black Test.

" Now, many may condemn me, and no doubt do, in my writing
that letter to John Anderson, whom I own as my brother in Chris.t,
suffering upon the same heads in Dumfries prison. I do not much
care what the time-servers say. But I hope none of the zealous
exercised Christians in the land, that are concerned with the wrongs
done to their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, will do it ; I having a
right call to do what I did, he writing to me, and I giving him an
answer, in which I have great peace, not^vithstanding it has brought
me upon the trial, and my God has owned me in it. And let such
as will condemn me mind that Scripture : ' It is God that justifieth,

230 A Cloud of Witnesses.

who is he that condemneth ? ' I bless the Lord that ever I was
lionoured to testify against the wrongs done to my Lord and Master,
Jesus Christ, either by word or write.

" Oh ! wonder what am I, that ever He should have chosen the
like of me, who have been one of the vilest of sinners ! If the world
had seen me as He saw me, they would not have chosen me, no, not
to have kept company with. But, oh ! wonder that His condescend-
ing love has not only taken me to be servant, but to be one of
the children of the family! and has said to me, as John xiv. 19 :
* Because I live, ye shall live also.' He has chosen me, and not I
Him. * Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver : I have
chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even
for mine own sake, will I do it ' (Isa. xlviii. 10, 11). Now, I had
His promise before ever I came to a prison, that He should honour
me, as Psalm xci. 14, 15: 'Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him : I will set him on high, because he hath
known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him : I
will be with him in trouble ; I will deliver him, and honour him.'

" Now, this is the ground upon which I have walked, and the grip
I got, which I have holden till now ; I mean, when I covenanted
with my God, to take Him upon the terms of His often It is a year
by-gone, being the first week of May 1681, since I personally sub-
scribed my name to be the Lord's ; for before that I played many
times fast and loose with God, for which I take shame and confusion
of face to myself (which is my due) ; but since [that time] I have been
kept free of what formerly I was guilty of, though the assaults of
Satan have not been wanting. I durst not look back, nor yet take
my word again ; but desired to act and contend for my Lord and
Master Jesus Christ's rights, and not to quit them to any, which He
helped and owned me in.

" Oh ! dear friends, all of you that are contending for Christ's
truths, get once a right in Himself, and ye cannot then, nor dare not but
contend for Him. But, while ye are in the dark about your interest,
ye can never walk upon sure grounds ; but [are] like a man walking
in the dark, that has hopes of getting to his lodging, but knows not
the way. And the thing that steals many of this generation off" their
feet is ; they go to seek the way from others that are also in the dark
of it themselves, and they seek the way from men, and follow the
example of men, because they think they are godly men, and by their
practice, they think they have the image of God ; and because of

Robert Gray. 231

that, they follow them, and take their advice, and do what they do,
thinking they cannot do wrong. But I am clear of it ; that is not the
way of God in this dark day, to seek it from blind guides, and not
from the true guide, Jesus Christ, who is given for a leader and a
commander to His people, and [ye] ought to be led by none, nor have
counsel from none but Himself; for the Spirit of God says: * Woe to
the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not
of me ; and that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that
they may add sin to sin : that walk, to go down into Egypt, and have
not asked at my mouth' (Isa. xxx. i, 2).

" Oh ! but this is the very thing that I have seen at this day,
especially since I came to prison. Oh ! the treachery against God,
which has been there, which was my only burden and grief, and made
me weary of the prison, and desire to be gone ; they taking counsel
from men, and placing vile and unworthy men to agent and plead for
them in Christ's matters, and dare not trust Him with it themselves.
And so it is no wonder that He leave them, and they go a black gate
{i.e., way].

" I take the walls of the Canongate Tolbooth (which I was
prisoner in near ten months) to be witness against the \vrongs done
to my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, there, both before and since ;
and I take the good maintenance they have had, to witness in their
conscience at the great day of accounts. They had never reason to
complain of wants, nor to say, that our Lord was a hard master.
And yet they wrong Him, most treacherously and cunningly hiding
from the eyes of the world their compliance with their agents ; and
like the whore, wiping their mouths, and saying, they have done no
evil, and saying, they have peace. Oh ! but my soul trembles to
think of that peace ; to seek peace with the enemies of God, and
say they have peace in it. I will not say, but ye may have peace
at present, when ye go out of prison ; because ye are going home
to your idols and Delilahs, whatever they be, either your wives or
children, or lands or employments. But I will say this, that if you
have wronged the work of God for them, they shall be accursed to
you, and prove a snare to you, and then you shall see what peace you
will have.

" Let such as have meddled, or are meddling with these perjured
men, see that Scripture as anent their peace : ' They have made
them crooked paths : whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace '
(Isa. lix. 8). And I am convinced of it, that these that meddle with

232 A Cloud of Witnesses.

them directly, or indirectly, when called to witness for truth, or staged
thereupon, and yield to them in their desires that are sinful, shall
break their peace with God, and shall hinder themselves to get the
bargain made with Him ; and if they have made it, it will be very
much if the bargain stand, without drawing a new engagement, and
deep mourning for the wrongs done to Him. For our Lord is now
taking a narrow look of Scotland, and seeing who did put the hand
to the plough to carry on the work of Reformation, to banish Popery
out of Scotland ; and now He is seeing who is countenancing Popery,
and this Popish Duke, that has gotten in his foot in Scotland, which
will be the blackest sight that ever poor Scotland saw.

" But whoever of the nobles or gentry of the land is guilty, yet
I will assure you, as sure as the Lord is in heaven, ministers, yea,
Presbyterian ministers are not free of Popery coming into the land ;
because they have not testified against it, who should have set the
trumpet to their mouths, and have given faithful warning ; and so
they would have delivered their souls, and the souls of others, whereas
now poor things are ensnared. But their blood will be required at
ministers' hands.

" And ye that are old wily professors, that have taken the lee side
of the brae, and are advising others to do so ; ye are not free of the
innocent blood shed in Scotland, and the loss of poor souls because
of your practice of seeming piety and holiness ; so ye blind their eyes.
And what ye do, that is a godly man in the town or country parishes, in
going to hear the curates, that have taken that black Test, or any other
thing, because ye do it to save your gear, they follow your practice.
But assure yourselves, the loss of their souls will be required at your
hands, who are ringleaders in an evil course, be who ye will, in prison
or out of prison ; our Lord is now near His coming, and is begun to
tread upon Scotland's sea, and will within a litde tread upon the
necks of His enemies, and come and deliver His church ; which I
die in the faith of. But it will be a costly delivery.

" Now I adhere and give my testimony to that glorious work of
Reformation, in reforming this land from Popery.

" And I adhere to the National Covenant and Solemn League
and Covenant, Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms,
Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties.

" I adhere to the testimonies of our worthies that have gone
before, and these of late, that are so much condemned by the pro-
fessors of this generation ; but this I will adventure to say, that these,

Robert Gray. 233

who are condemning them whom God hath justified, shall never be
honoured to give a testimony to the truths of Christ, and against His
enemies.

" I adhere to all the meetings and assemblies of the people of
God that have been in Scotland in defence of the Gospel.

" I adhere to Pentland, Drumclog, Bothwell, and Airsmoss, where
our worthies fell ; which blood (I die in the faith of it) shall have a
glorious spring ; which quarrel the God of heaven, the covenanted
God of Scotland, will resent.

" I also adhere to and heartily join with the Rutherglen Declara-
tion ; and I disown the Hamilton Declaration, because it took in the
malignant interest.

" I adhere to the Sanquhar Declaration and Queensferry Papers,
and the Excommunication at the Torwood, as lawful and right, in
casting off Charles Stuart and the rest of the malignant party. And
it shall be seen within few years, that the party which the Lord
stirred up for that use, was in their duty, and these that lay by,
were not.

" I also adhere to and heartily join with that noble testimony
given at Lanark, against that black Parliament, that sat last to over-
turn the whole work of Reformation, and made that black Test that
has defiled the whole land, and made an open door for Popery to
come into the land. I leave my testimony against all these that have
taken it, or against those that have or may take favours from men,
that have taken that test especially.

" I leave my testimony against prisoners, who, being in upon the
account of religion, do tamper any way Avith these black testers to
wrong the interest of God. Woe, woe, woe will be to them that give
the enemy such ground to say, we are but fanatics, and will do any-
thing before we lose our lives ; which I myself heard some of them
say, which was a grief to my soul, and did sting me to the heart.

" I leave my testimony against such professors and preachers, as
can sit in such company, and hear such talk, and not resent it \ it
being an acquiescing in the discourse to keep silence.

" I leave my testimony against all giving bond and caution, or
petitioning the stated enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ.

" I leave my testimony against all the cess-payers, and doing any
other thing that strengthens the enemies' hands, and against jailor fee-
paying ; for by so doing it says, we have done wrong to them ; which
I deny, that we have done them any, but they have done to us.

2 34 ^ Cloud of IVi blesses.

" I leave my testimony against these ministers that sat in a presby-
tery against worthy Mr Richard Cameron, that highly honoured
martyr of Jesus Christ, and thought to have deposed him from his
ministry. I also leave my testimony against that meeting that sat at
Sundowal [in the parish of Dunscore], in Nithsdale, which I was a
witness to ; ye will see it more fully spoken to in that paper of mine
which was found at Kelso, which I own, and desire that it may be
put in with this :* and they may go together, and my indictment
with the letter. I am called to set to my seal to the faithfulness
of that worthy man's doctrine, viz., worthy Mr Richard Cameron,
who was the mean that the Lord made use of to establish me in the
faith. I bless the Lord that ever I saw him, or was honoured to be
in his company. I bless the Lord that ever I was in the company
of worthy Mr Donald Cargill. I am likewise here to bear witness to
the faithful warning these two worthies gave in Northumberland.

" I likewise leave my testimony against the professors in North-
umberland, that came not out to help the Lord against the mighty.
When I myself gave them warning, some of them mocked at me ; for
which I will be a witness against them at the great day of accounts.

" I leave my testimony against the giving bond to assizers, or
sessions, or answering their courts. My work, while I am here, is
only to witness against the sins of the times, wherein I live, and the
wrongs done to my Lord and Master.

" I leave my testimony against these four men that were prisoners
in the Canongate Tolbooth, John Gib, and the other three that held
his principles ; I disown, detest, and abominate their principles ;
though some were pleased to brand me with them since I came to
prison. I heartily forgive them whatever they have said of me, as I
desire to be forgiven of my Father which is in heaven.

" Now, my time here is but short ; and I think it needless to
write any more, the testimonies of the worthies being so little valued
by this generation, that nothing will do at it but ^^Tath and judgments,
that though an angel should come down from heaven it will avail
nothing. For nothing I can see but wrath, wrath, wrath ; judgments,
judgments, sad judgments ; coming on this land very suddenly. But
my eyes shall be closed, and I shall not see it, and well is me for
this. Therefore I am content, and heartily content, seeing I get my
soul for a prey.

* This cannot be done, no copy of that paper being found. — N'ote by the com-
pilers of the " Cloud."

Robert Gray. 235

" I have only a short word to say to the remnant of the Lord's
people that is to be left behind, who were only my delight in the
world. My soul trembles to think of what is amongst you this day,
especially those of you that were in one mind in contending for the
truths of our Lord Jesus Christ; whatever has fallen out among
you, or any that have fallen back. Seek to reclaim them, that they
may be brought in again ; let self be done away, and partiality, and
let the way of God be taken in time, for it will be but short that ye
will have it. And think not that ye will wait for better times and
opportunities ; wait not for that, for ye have time and opportunity
now that ye shall not have afterwards. And if ye get not together
presently, you shall meet with something shortly, that will make you
blythe [?>., glad] to be together; and let these that think they are
standing take heed lest they fall. Now these that have gone out
from us, by complying with the malignant party, and pleading for
Baal's interest, (I mean, Charles Stuart's interest,) and taking shelter
under their wings, I have less hope of them than any. If ye can set
up your face to God, and say that ye never durst comply with these
tyrants and usurpers, to wrong the interest of God, for the loss of
your life or gear, then I will assure you of your soul for a prey.
Though ye have lost all that ye have in the world, your children
shall see brave days, and ye shall have all your wants made up when
ye shall get Christ Himself.

" Now I can stay no longer, nor take up my time any more ; for
my work is finished, and I have fought the good fight, and finished
my course. Strong have been the assaults and trials that I have had
from the devil ; by all sorts, both ministers and professors ; but my
God has helped me to withstand them, for which I bless His holy
name, and desire to praise Him while I am here. Oh ! let all the
zealous godly in Scotland praise Him, on my behalf, that He chose
the like of me, who has been a vile sinner.

" Now, I am this day free of the blood of all men in the world. I
desire to forgive all men the wrongs done to me, as I desire to be for-
given of my Father which is in heaven. But for these who have
wrongfully taken away my life, simply for adhering to truth, and for no
matters of fact ; for my part, I forgive them ; but my God shall resent
it, with the rest of my dear brethren's blood that has been shed on
fields and scaffolds.

" Now, farewell all creature-comforts in time. Farewell sweet
societies of the Lord's people, that were my only delight in the

236 A Cloud of Witnesses.

world. Farewell holy and sweet Scriptures, which only were my
comfort in all my straits. Farewell all friends and Christian acquain-
tances. Farewell mother, brother, and all relations in the world.
Farewell sun, moon, and stars. Welcome scaffold, for my sweet
Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome gibbet, and welcome heaven. Welcome
immediate presence of God, and His Son Jesus Christ, who only
has redeemed me by His blood. Welcome angels, and the spirits of
just men made perfect, where we shall never part again. Now, Father,
into Thy hands I commit my spirit, that is Thine. Now, come Lord
Jesus Christ ; come quickly, and receive me hence to my resting
place, where my portion is.

" ROBERT GRAY."

CCOUNT of some of the Last Words of Robert Gray
in the Council House and on the Scaffold.

'iSC^f,^:,^^ This worthy martyr coming out of the Tolbooth

^' ' '"-^ to the place of t-xecution, was taken (as the custom is)
first into the Town-Council House, where the Town-
Council desired that he would purge the city of his
blood. And he told them, that judgment would over-
take the city for the innocent blood shed therein, and bade them
assure themselves of it, for it was without doubt. They said to him,
that he had access to pray if he would. He told them, that he had
committed himself to God already. Then they said, if he had not
freedom, they were there who would pray for him ; but he looking
round, said, he saw none whom he would employ, but he had an
advocate with the Father.

Then, being brought from thence to his execution place, after a
little discourse to the pretended magistrates of the city, some of them
being present, he sung the Ixxxiv. Psalm, and read the xv. chapter of
the Gospel according to John ; and after the reading thereof, he
said to the multitude: "Sirs, ye would remember that this is the word
of God, and not of man, and that we are to follow no man further
than he follows the word of God : " and said, " If light had not come
into Scotland they had been more excusable, but now tliey have no
cloak nor excuse for their sin, and their wrongs done to God; and

Robert Gray. 237

because of despised light and the despised Gospel, there is assuredly-
great wrath coming upon them."

And then he prayed, and after prayer went up the ladder, and
looking about to the multitude said: " Sirs, you are feeding your eyes
upon me ; but what see you upon me ? Surely you see not the wrath
of God upon me. But if you would look up to the heavens yc might
see the wrath of an angry God against yourselves." And he said, " I
am brought out of another nation to own that Covenant which ye have
broken, and to seal it, and the glorious work of Reformation, with my
blood ; which Covenant ye have not only broken, but ye have given
it under your hands, that ye shall never own God any more, nor have
any more of Him."

And he blessed the Lord, saying: " Glory, glory, glory be to His
name, that ever He gave me a life to lay down for Him, in witnessing
against His enemies and the wrongs done to my Lord and Master
Jesus Christ." And said, "The Lord be Judge between me and you,
who have taken away my life, v/hich of us have been in the wrong to
other; and assure yourselves there is wrath, sad wrath hanging over
this city for the innocent blood shed therein. But as for you, who
are the remnant of the Lord's people, I would say this to you, keep
your ground, and beware of turning aside to one hand or another,
and I will asure you, the Lord will prepare a Zoar for you ; cleave to
truth, and cleave one to another ; and, as sure as God lives, ye shall
see yet glorious days in Scotland ; for I die in the faith of it, that He
is on His way returning to the land. But woe, woe, woe will be to
those who are enemies and strangers to Him."

Then praying a little within himself, when some bade put him
over, and others cried out, spare him a little ; he cried, " I am ready,
I am ready." Whereupon the executioner threw him over.

James Robertson.

AMES ROBERTSON belonged to Stonehouse, a parish in
Lanarkshire. He was noted as a serious and a rehgious
person. He was what in that age was styled a merchant,
and went up and down the country with a pack of goods. In October
1682 he was in Kilmarnock in the exercise of his calling, and visited
John Finlay, then a prisoner in jail. While talking with his friend,
without giving the least offence or provocation, he was seized and
carried to the guard-house. His pack was taken from him and never
returned, and he was kept in close confinement for ten or twelve days.
" During this time," Wodrow relates, " he was brought before Major
White, who would have him give his oath super inguirendis, which the
prisoner absolutely refused to do, whereupon he was very barbarously
used. My accounts bear that the Major himself pulled him by the
nose and wrung it about, till it gushed out in blood. After this treat-
ment he was sent back to prison, and when there, whilst he and his
fellow-prisoners offered to worship God together, the captain of the
guard getting notice, came in with great rage, and, pulling the Bible
out of James Robertson's hand, swore bloodily he would burn it if he
offered to go about this work again. In a few weeks he was carried
into Edinburgh under a guard. At Linlithgow he was pressed to
drink the king's health, which he refusing, the soldiers treated him
very rudely, and tied his head and feet together with cords, and left
him in that posture upon the cold earth all night. To-morrow [i.e.,
next day], when on horseback, they tied his feet together, very hard,
under the horse's belly, and in that posture carried him into Edin-
burgh."

He was several times examined by the Committee for public
affairs. The substance of his answers, as forming part of his indict-
ment, is in Wodrow. In their fullest form, so far as Robertson him-
self remembered them, they are given here as the introduction to his
testimony. No other evidence was brought against him except his

ya77ies Robertson. 239

answers to their questions. They were determined, however, to take
his Hfe, for they supposed that he was the person who affixed a pro-
testation containing several pointed reasons against the Test upon the
church-door of Stonehouse.

The jury found him guilty of treason, and the court sentenced him
to be hanged at the Grassmarket, on Friday, December 15, 1682.

As VVodrow says : — " This harsh and iniquitous sentence was
accordingly executed. When James Robertson oft'ered to speak upon
the scaffold, he was interrupted by the ruffling of the drums, and
when complaining of this, Johnston, the town-major, beat him with
his cane, at the foot of the ladder, in a most barbarous manner. This
abominable rudeness to a dying man, and the patience and cheerful-
ness of this good man in suffering all this, I know, was the occasion
of a deep conviction to some who were present, of the evil of persecu-
tion and prelacy. And there are severals yet alive, who can date
their first serious impressions of religion from their seeing some of the
persecuted party suffer, as they themselves have informed me."

James Robertson's testimony is the longest in the volume. He
had more time for writing than many of his fellow-sufferers. He was
tried on Monday, December 11, and was executed the following
Friday, whereas not a few were tried the one day and hanged the
other, and sometimes even on the very day they received sentence.

James Robertson mentions Auchengilloch as a place where a
fast was held, at which both Donald Cargill and Richard Cameron
preached. Auchengilloch is situated in the parish of Lesmahagow,
in the centre of a wild moorland district. It is a glen at the source of
the Kype water, and is formed by a depression in the moor of about
forty feet in depth, and is of size that will give sitting room on its sides
for at least five hundred people. Although so large, it is not seen
when walking over the moor until the traveller comes immediately
upon it. At its south end the hill rises about 200 feet above the
moor, and commands a view of the country for many miles round.
On this hill watchmen were posted when a meeting was held in the
glen beneath. Its central position, six to nine miles from Muirkirk
on the south, Strathaven and Stonehouse on the north, Lesmahagow
on the east, and Newmilns on the west, and the three or four miles
of rough moor that must be gone over ere it be reached rendering it
inaccessible to cavalry, combined to make it a favourite spot, where
the general meetings of the United Societies were most often held
during the persecution. Michael Shields' " Faithful Contendings

240 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Displayed," contains the substance of the Minutes of Proceedings of
five meetings that were held in the soHtude of the glen in January
8, and February 12, 1685 ; May 5, and June 24, 1686 ; and October
5, 1687.-ED.]

> ^♦^ <

HE LAST TESTIMONY of James Robertson, who
lived in the parish of Stonehouse, and suffered in the
'/ Grassmarket of Edinburgh, December 15, 1682.

His Interrogations before the Council.

Quest. I. "Is the king your lawful prince, yea, or not ?
Ans. " Since ye have made your questions matters
of life and death, ye ought to give time to deliberate upon them ;
but seeing I am put to it, I answer, As he is a terror to evil doers,
and a praise to them that do well, he is ; or he is not.

Q_. 2. " Were Pentland and Bothwell acts of traitory ?

A. "They being in their own defence, and the defence of the
Gospel, they are not acts of traitory or rebellion, self-defence being
always lawful ; wliich I prove by the Confession of Faith, in that
article whereon you ground yourselves, which is, that subjects may
resist unjust violence and tyranny.

Q. 3. " But wherein lies his tyranny ?

A. "If robbing the privileges of the Church be not an act of
tyranny, I refer it to be judged.

Q. 4. " Is the king a tyrant?

A. " I refer it to his obligation in the Coronation Oath, and his
present actings and practices in robbing the privileges of the Gospel,
with the usurpation of the Church's liberties, and the prerogatives
royal of Jesus Christ, the anointed of the Father, in making himself
supreme ; and I refer it to persons at home, and nations abroad.

<2- 5- " Were you at Bothwell Bridge?

A. " Ye count it an act of traitory, and also rebellion, which is
criminal. Bear witness of it, and so make it evident.

Q. 6. " They said, Purge yourself by oath, and so we offer to set
you at liberty.

James Robertson. 241

A. " I will say no more of it, for when I told the truth to some
of you, it was not believed.

" One of them said, Now I will try if ye be a man of parts :

Q. 7. " There was an Act of Parliament when the Confession of
Faith was made, declaring, that the king was supreme, and it was
owned by the Presbyterians of that time ?

A. " How could that be owned, seeing the Confession was owned ?
And I called for the Act, but it was not brought.

Q. 8. " Was the Bishop's death murder ?

A. " When I am a judge, set upon the bench, I shall pass sen-
tence thereupon." Being questioned further anent it, I said, ' I have
answered that already, I will say no more to it.'

Q. 9. " Own you Lanark and Sanquhar Declarations ?

A. " I cannot own anything, till I see and consider it.

Q. 10. " Keep you your parish kirk?

A. " If the minister have aught to challenge me with, he may do it.

(2-11. "Now, as a test of your loyalty, will you say, God save
the king?

A. " Prayer ought to be gone about with composure and de-
liberation, and I am not in a composure for it.

Q. 12. "Would you not seek a blessing, if at meat?

A. " If ye were present ye would see.

"One of them said, these principles will condemn you. I an-
swered, If I be absolved of God, it is the less matter though men
condemn me."

HE LAST TESTIMONY of James Robertson.

" Dear friends, true lovers of Zion's righteous
CAUSE, — If I could speak or write anything to the com-
mendation of tlie covenanted God of the Church and
kingdom of Scotland, 1 have surely many things to do
it for.

" I. That He trysted [/>., appointed] my lot to be
in a nation where He hath set up His pure worship, whereas He
might have letten my lot be among the pagan and heathen nations,
that know nothing of the true God.

"Or 2. He might have ordered it to be among these that

242 A Cloud of Witnesses.

are worshipping Antichrist, that whore of Rome, that monstrous
beast, that sitteth upon many waters, whose sentence may be read :
' And tlie third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice. If any
man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his
forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His
indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in
the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb :
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever : and
they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name' (Rev. xiv. 9-1 1).
So that it is as sure as God is God, and the holy Scriptures are His
word, according to which all men that have heard or seen it shall be
judged, having the sentence of absolution or condemnation passed
according thereto : ' For as many as have sinned without law shall
also perish without law : and as many as have sinned in the law shall
be judged by the law ' (Rom. ii. 12). So that it is clear, that the first
will surely perish, viz., all infidels, atheists, and pagans, that know
not the true God nor His law ; [and as to the second,] whatever vain
hopes Papists may have of being saved, living and dying Papists, or
whatever charity loose Protestants have upon that account to give
them, they are as far from being saved in that unconverted condition
as devils, which are eternally cast out of His presence.

" 3. I have Him to bless for this, that my lot is not in, and
among the corrupt Protestant Churches abroad ; Lutheranism, and
other corruptions and abounding errors, both in doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government, Sectarian, Episcopal, or Erastian ; but in
the Reformed Church of Scotland, where all these things have been
cast over the hedge, as not plants of His planting ; and where Christ
hath been owned in all His three offices, King, Priest, and Prophet.
Though, alas ! He may say of us, in a great measure, as to the
Church of Israel of old : ' I have planted her a noble vine, but how
is she become a degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?' In
that day of planting we could have sung that song, ' We have a
strong city ; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks '
(Isa. xxvi. i), [but] 'The Lord hath accomplished His fury ; He hath
poured out His fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and
it hath devoured the foundations thereof. The kings of the earth,
and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that
the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates

James Robertson. 243

of Jerusalem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her
priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
they have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted
themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments '
(Lam. iv. 11-14). This may be our regret before God, as it is in
the 7th and 8th verses of the same chapter : ' Her Nazarites
were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more
ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire ; their
visage is blacker than a coal ; they are not known in the streets :
their skin cleaveth to their bones ; it is withered, it is become like
a stick.' And oh ! how unnatural-like were it for the mother to
let the child, the son of her womb, perish for lack of the breasts ;
were she free of the child's blood, it perishing for want of its natural
food ? And, oh ! how many are this day perishing for want of the
lively-preached Gospel. ' Even the sea-monsters draw out the breast,
they give suck to their young ones : the daughter of my people is
become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness ' (Lam. iv. 3).

" 4. I have Him to bless for this, that I am not this day fighting
against Him in open stated war ; and so bearing arms against Him,
His work, and people ; for there is no more in me, as of myself, than
these that are deepliest imbruing their hands in the blood of His
saints.

" 5. I have Him to bless for this, that ever He hath opened my
eyes to see the mystery of iniquity that abounds, and hath its seat in
the heart, and also, in some measure, hath given me a sight of the
remedy in the blood of Jesus Christ, with His Spirit engaging me to
Himself, letting me see Himself to be altogether precious, making
me see that it is better to be a door-keeper in the house of God, than
to dwell in the tabernacles of sin. ' Thou shalt guide me with thy
counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. Whom have I in
heaven but thee, and there is none upon the earth that I desire
besides thee' (Psa. Ixxiii. 24, 25).

" 6. I have His holy name to bless, that ever He made me to
know anything (how small soever) of His controverted truth, viz.,
the privileges of His crown and kingdom ; now, when by their acts
and laws, they have taken His crown and sceptre and royal robe,
and settled the whole government of His house upon a man that is
but a worm. But this I believe, that His decree will stand, oppose
it who will. ' Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion '
(Ps. ii. 6). ' I am the Lord ; that is my name, my glory will I not

244 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

give to another, neither my praise to graven images ' (Isa. xlii. 8).
Now, is not that His declarative glory, which that usurper hath taken
to himself? Yea, but He that leadeth captivity captive, according to
His royal word, will reclaim His own glory. He it is alone that hath
given Christ to be the sure foundation, whereon all the building is
fitly framed ; that stone which the builders "rejected is made the head
of the corner. ' Thus saith the Lord God, behold, I lay in Zion for a
foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foun-
dation ; he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will
I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet : and the hail shall
sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hid-
ing-place' (Isa. xxviii. i6, 17).

" 7. I bless and magnify the holy name of my God, that hath
called me to be a sufferer for His work and interest, counting it not
my shame, but a high privilege and dignifying of me, when many
famous in their generation have been denied of it ; though indeed most
of this generation have brought up an ill report upon the cross,
endeavouring by their practice to render it of none effect. But I
have this Scripture for my encouragement : ' And who is he that
will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?' (i Pet. iii.

13-17-)

" 8. I have this great and glorious Prince to praise for this. And,
oh ! let all the true children of Zion laud and praise this only praise-
worthy God, that hath not only called me to bear witness to the
truth, but hath helped me not to deny His name, titles, and
attributes. For that is the thing that the enemies and usurpers of
my lovely Lord's crown are seeking ; to deny allegiance to Him,
who is given of the Father to be a leader and commander to the
people, even Him on whose shoulders the government is laid, com-
mitting the ordering of His house to faithful stewards, to order His
affairs according to His own appointment in His holy word, and hath
not left it to the prudence of men, how learned soever, Gamaliel, that
learned Pharisee and doctor of the law, erred in the exposition of
the law, not knowing Christ to be the end of the law for righteous-
ness to every one that believeth. And seeing these great learned
Rabbis erred, every one in that which was the great and main end
of the law, viz., Christ, to whom Moses and all the prophets bare
witness, how much more shall they err where it is left to their own
wisdom, having no platform to walk by, as the maintainers of the
prelatic hierarchy would be at? Solomon was as wise as any, yea,

James Robertson. 245

the wisest that ever was, or ever shall be ; and he erred, having the
rule of the law to walk by. Were not all the laws and forms of the
house given by God to Moses, as well for manner of worship, as the
matter thereof?

" And further, as to that which is so much pleaded for by this
generation, his (the king's) authority in civil matters, which, as matters
now stand, cannot be given, neither will they have it, without the
other, for by their Acts of Parliament they have made them equally
essential to the crown. Likewise there cannot be an authority with-
out a foundation. If any shall say, he hath it from that which he
received at his admission to the government, as he entered upon
the terms of the Coronation Oath ; to this I answer, he hath re-
scinded that, in and by that Act Rescissory in his first parliament ;
for when he annulled and rescinded that from which he had his
power and authority, he thereby rescinded his own authority also.
So that from this he hath no just power, having oftener than once
burnt the Covenants, which were his coronation oath, without which
he could not enter the government.

" If it shall be said, that the foundation of his [the king's] power
is built upon the Test, wherein he is made absolute supreme judge
over all matters and persons, as well ecclesiastical as civil :

" I. That is so far from giving him a right, that it maketh him
a complete monster, having one head and two bodies. And if that
authority shall be owned by me, being a free-born member of the
Church of Scotland, which is Christ's mystical body, and in my bap-
tismal oath given away to Him, and having given my oath of allegi-
ance to Him, as king and head of His own house, shall I own that
autliority, without being guilty of leese-majesty [/>., treason] against
the King of Zion, and so of the highest degree of sacrilege ?

" 2. I shall thereby deny my allegiance to God Creator, under
whom the magistrate should rule in a direct line, he ruling by his own
arbitrament, which is contrary to our obligations in covenant, we
being bound in covenant to defend the civil rights and liberties of
the crown and kingdom, as we are born subjects thereof.

" 3. That which they have done in condemning the true sons of
the Church and subjects of the kingdom to death, which is open
murder under the colour of law. Now that it is such, these whom
they have proceeded against, being adherers to the word of God,
which is the only rule of faith and manners, owning God as God,
Christ as Redeemer, the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier ; and they having

246 A Cloud of VVibiesses.

nothing to charge them with, but their adherence to the tnie Christian
principles, and they sentenced upon the same heads 3 this must be
the deepest of murder.

" 4. These being owners of the true reformed rehgion, and all the
fundamental laws of the Church and kingdom ; and they refusing to
judge and sentence according to the word of God, according to which
all sentences of life and death ought to pass, as also refusing to judge
according to the laws, as they received them at their admission to
the government ; which was, not to rule the law, but it to rule them,
and they to rule the people according to that law, and the people
remaining in subjection to the law of God, and the ancient and fun-
damental laws of the land, and the persons of lawful governors ; being
made treason ; this must certainly not only be a murdering of men,
yea, true Christian men; but also a murdering of justice. And thus
the land is defiled with blood. Read the sentence of such, ' So ye
shall not pollute the land wherein ye are : for blood it defileth the
land : and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed
therein, but by the blood of him that shed it' (Num. xxxv. 33). Such
as are owning and pleading for this present power, let the end of
magistracy be considered ; ' For rulers are not a terror to good works,
but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do
that which is good, and thou shall have praise of the same. For,
for this cause pay ye tribute also : for they are God's ministers,
attending continually upon this very thing ' (Rom. xiii. 3, 6). * Or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punish-
ment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well ' (i Pet.
ii. 14).

" Now it is undeniably evident from what is aforesaid, that piety
is suppressed, and iniquity nourished, and the sword in their hand
used against these that do most entirely cleave to the Scripture rule,
and the sworn principles of the Church of Scotland, and the ancient
fundamental laws thereof, ' A king that sitteth in the throne of
judgment, scattereth away all evil with his eyes ' (Prov. xx. 8).

" Now I dare herein appeal to the sentence of all single, unbiassed,
and judicious persons, whether or not the present exercise of their
power be not both injustice and tyranny, for there is no public power
in the land but what is founded on perjury, sacrilege, and tyranny,
and exercised according thereto. And seeing it is so, ye that are
owTiers of such a power, ye must needs be upon the matter owners of
all these ; compearing before their courts, and paying them tribute,

James Robertson. 247

placing advocates, and pleading your cause before such unjust judges.
And more especially such as are prisoners for the truths of the Gos-
pel, and so ought to witness a good confession for His trampled-upon
truths, who was not ashamed to witness a good confession before
Pontius Pilate, to wit, that He was a king. ' Pilate therefore said
unto him. Art thou a king then ? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that
I am a king. To this end was I born ' (John xviii. 37).

" Now, ye who are charging me this day, and others of my breth-
ren, sufferers for truth, to be guilty of self-murder, and so a breach of
the sixth commandment (which is very false, for self-preservation
must stoop to truth's preservation), did our blessed Lord establish an
advocate to plead for Him ? Did that valiant champion Stephen do
it? but was free and positive in asserting his testimony. Or did
Paul do it ? Or show me any such precept or practice from Scrip-
ture ? Yea, consider the nature of witnessing ; it proveth the contrary;
but I prove such as do this to be actually guilty of the breach of the
second commandment, which is that, 'Thou shalt not make unto
thee any graven image ' (Exod, xx. 4). For, as I have proved before,
he is set up in Christ's room, and exerciseth authority in and by that
abominable arrogate Supremacy, having intermixed things civil with
ecclesiastic, by their Acts of Parliament, making them both alike
inherent to the crown, and so cannot be owned in either, without
sacrilegious idolatry, and so a breach of this commandment. As also
of the fifth commandment, which concerneth natural or civil parents,
which are to be owned and obeyed only in the Lord, which cannot in
the least allow of any man's being absolutely supreme, even in civil
matters ; it being the ordinance of God, and a lawful magistrate the
minister of God, bound to dispense His ordinance, according to His
rule in the word, and according to the ancient laws of the kingdom.
For, as in the obeying of lawful power, it is obedience to this com-
mandment ; so, upon the contrary, the owning and obeying an un-
lawful power (such as theirs), certainly must be a breach of it.

" And can any deny that to be an owning of them ; to estabhsh
one of the members of their court, to plead for no other effect, but to
hale men out of the tnie principles and practices of the true reformed
Church of Scotland ; when the panel is called by his lot to witness
for them, and give a confession thereof, before such an evil and
adulterous generation ; these being Christ's truths questioned, and
truth is Himself; ' I am the way, the truth, and the life,' etc. If any
should object, and say, they are small things ; to this I answer, no

248 A Cloud of Witnesses.

truth is small. ' He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful
also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in
much ' (Luke xvi. 10), And such as are supplicating the enemies,
are guilty here 3 for a supplication ought not, nor can be given in,
but to a lawful power and for a lawful thing.

" Such are guilty, who are coming out of prison upon bond and
caution, binding themselves to compear before their judicatories,
at such a particular time, or at demand ; for we ought not to bind to
compear or answer before a judicatory, but a lawful one, such as
theirs is not ; so that such are actually guilty, but especially such who
formerly joined in declining them.

" This generation seems to be a generation, in a great measure
given up to work all manner of wickedness with greediness, consider-
ing what profanity and robbing of God, mocking Him and religion,
instability, and giving away His and the Church's due. ' Even from
the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and
have not kept them. Return unto me. and I will return unto you,
saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return ? Will
a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say. Wherein
have we robbed thee ? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with
a curse ; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation ' (Mai. iii.
7-9). I am not to take upon me to speak anything for future times,
but this generation seems to have the marks and evidences of a gene-
ration of His wrath, fitted for judgment and destruction. Take these
Scriptures as an evidence, ' For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all
the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels \ that
I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an
hissing : therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people ' ( Micah
vi. 16). 'Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it
waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabi-
tants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest ;
as with the servant, so Avith his master ; as with the maid, so with her
mistress ; as with the buyer, so with the seller ; as with the lender, so
with the borrower ; as with the taker of usury, so Avitli the giver of
usury to him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled :
for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth
away ; the world languisheth and fadeth away ; the haughty people of
the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabi-
tants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the
ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the

yames Robertson. 249

curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate :
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left '
(Isa. xxiv. 1-6). Now read Israel's sins here, and compare them
with Scotland's sins, and see if they be not parallel.

" And seeing it is so, what can be expected, but the punishments
and plagues shall be parallel also. I cannot shake the thoughts of
this off my spirit, but that there is a fourfold vengeance to be poured
out upon this land.

" I. The vengeance of God, for the intrusions on, and usurpa-
tions of His sword, crown, sceptre, and robe-royal.

" 2. A Temple vengeance, which is not a small one, for the laying
His sanctuary desolate.

"3. A Gospel vengeance, for the slighting of the great and rich
offer of Christ and salvation, offered in such purity and plenty.

" 4. A Covenant vengeance, for the great perjury and apostacy
in the breach of, and falling from the prosecuting the ends of these
Covenants, which the Lord highly honoured this land with, to bring it
into covenant with Himself, and make it Hephzibah and Beulah unto
Him. ' For my sword shall be bathed in heaven : behold, it shall
come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judg-
ment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with
fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the
kidneys of rams : for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great
slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down
with them, and the bullocks with the bulls ; and their land shall be
soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness ' (Isa. xxxiv.
5-7). 'For thus saith the Lord unto the king's house of Judah ;
Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon : yet surely I
will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.
And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his
weapons : and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them
into the fire. And many nations shall pass by this city, and they
shall say every man to his neighbour. Wherefore hath the Lord done
thus unto this great city ? Then they shall answer, Because they
have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped
other gods, and served them ' (Jer. xxii. 6-9).

" This land hath not only departed from God, in and by their
own sins, in refusing the rich offer of the Gospel, and [in the] breach
of Covenant, but have homologated that broken and despised idol's
sin, that hath overturned the work of Reformation, by their owning

250 A Cloud of Witnesses.

of him now, when he hath taken the whole privileges of Christ's crown
and kingdom to himself. And this I am persuaded of, that if there
be a family in the Christian world, that comes under Amalek's curse,
viz., with whom He will have war for ever ; it is that family called
the royal family, whom I think God is about to sweep off the throne,
so that no root thereof shall be left to exercise in the government.
* That bringeth the princes to nothing ; He maketh the judges of the
earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted ; yea, they shall not
be sown : yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth ; and he
shall also blow upon tliem, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind
shall take them away as stubble ' (Isa. xl. 23, 24).

" Now as to the articles of m" indictment, whereon my sentence
of death is founded, they are —

" First, The owning and maintaining, that it was lawful to rise
in arms at Pentland and Bothwell Bridge ; which I did with great
cheerfulness and boldness, they being in their own defence, and in
the defence of the Gospel ; and took that article for proof in the
Confession of Faith, that they have given out to be the confession of
their own faith, professing to build that abominable and ridiculous
Test upon, which shows that they are ill builders, the building being
so far off the foundation. But I refer you to the draught of a paper,
which I drew as my testimony against that Test, which, with the
consent and advice of others, was affixed upon the parish kirk-door of
Stonehouse. And I am of the mind that this proof, as it did enrage
them, being like a wild bull caught in their own net, so it did give
them no small damp.

" A second was, speaking treason (as they call it), and declining
their authority, which consisteth in this- —

" When asked, if their king, or rather their idol, were a tyrant ? I
referred it to his obligations in his Coronation Oath, to be considered
with his present actings and practices, with his usurpations upon the
privileges of the Church, and prerogatives royal of Jesus Christ, who
is the anointed of the Father.

" And the refusing to say ' God save the king;' which we find was
the order that was used among the children of Israel at the king's
anointing to that office ; and used in our own nation at the corona-
tion. Now, this being only due to a lawful king, ought not to be
given but to a lawful king, and so not to him, being a degenerate
tyrant. For if I should, I thereby had said Amen to all that he hath
done against the Church and liberties thereof, and to all his oppression

James Robertson, 2 5 1

by unlawful exactions, and raising of armies ; for no other effect but
to deprive us of the hearing of the Gospel, and troubling and molesting
the subjects, both in their consciences and external liberties; and also
to their bloodshed and murders made upon the people of God and
free subjects of the kingdom ; and so bid him God-speed, contrary to
that in 2 John i. 10. And seeing it cannot be given unto any that
have thus used their power to a wrong end, in such a measure and
manner, so much less when they have set him up as an idol, in the
room of God incarnate. And shall I pray to bless that man in his
person and government, which God hath cursed ? For it cannot be
expected, but that he shall be cursed, that thus ventureth upon the
bosses of the buckler of God Almighty.

" Now I shall here give, in short, an account of my principles ;
which I shall do, as in the sight of an all-seeing God. I am a
true . Christian, truly anti-popish, anti-prelatic, anti-sectarian, anti-
schismatic, anti-erastian, a true Presbyterian, owning the true Pro-
testant religion, now owned and professed by the poor wrestling and
suffering remnant in Scotland. And whatever men have said, or may
say of me, I have lived, and now I die thus. Wherefore :

" I. I give testimony to the truth, fulness, and authority of the
Holy Scriptures, and to all the truths contained therein, and warran-
table therefrom.

" 2. I bear my testimony to the way of salvation through Jesus
Christ, and that by His satisfaction the moral law was not abrogated,
but fulfilled ; and that the moral law is as binding on the Christian
truly interested in Him, this day, as it was that day that it was given
to the children of Israel ; only the condemnatory sentence thereof
loosed to all such as are believers indeed.

3. I bear my testimony to the work of Reformation, as it was
reformed from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and other errors ; as it
is contained in the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Cate-
chisms, Covenants, National and Solemn League, Solemn Acknow-
ledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Sum of Saving
Knowledge, Directory for Worship, the Causes of the Lord's Wrath,
drawn up by the General Assembly of this Church, after the evil in
meddling with that rotten-hearted malignant Charles Stuart was seen.

" 4. I bear my testimony to the faithful actings of the Remon-
strators against malignants and malignant interests, which are the
very things this day contended for by the true Presbyterians of the
Church of Scotland.

252 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" 5. I bear my testimony (not to go further back, seeing it homolo-
gates the rest), to that noble testimony given at Lanark, against that
tyrant and the Test enacted by the late Parliament, which I could
not but look upon, in the time of the carrying on of it, and yet do,
that the remnant was therein owned of the Lord.

" 6. I bear my testimony to all the faithful testimonies of the
martyrs that have gone before us on scaffolds, in the fields, or in the
seas.

" 7. I bear my testimony to all the appearances in arms for the
defence of the Gospel.

" 8. I bear my testimony to the faithful manner of the delivery
of the Gospel, that hath been in the open fields, by the faithful and
sent servants of Jesus Christ, exercising according to His own com-
mission ; preaching days, communion days, and fasts ; particularly
one holden at Auchengilloch by three ministers, two of them now
glorified — viz., Mr Donald Cargill and Mr Richard Cameron — where
the land's guilt was freely and faithfully discovered.

" 9. And lastly, I bear my testimony to the fellowship meetings
of the Lord's people, particular and general ; and my soul hath many
a tmie been refreshed in them.

" Likewise, on the other hand,

" I. I leave my testimony against the Public Resolutions for taking
in that malignant interest, for which this poor Church is this day
smarting, and feeling the weight of that tyrant's hand, for such eager
lusting after a king.

" 2. I leave my testimony against Hamilton declaration, which is
one and the same thing with the Resolutions, (i.) For taking the
foresaid interest, contrary to the land's engagements in covenant.
(2.) For corrupting the army. But my mind of this, with several
other things, such as the excommunication, tyrant's interest, cess, and
locality, is more fully expressed in a paper, entitled ' Some few Griev-
ances set down by way of Query;' which was occasioned by a
minister being preaching near to the place of my residence, and some
falsely accusing me for casting at [/>., despising] ministers, and so at
ministry. And to show that my not hearing was not from any schis-
matical design, but of conscience of duty, judging him deficient and
faulty in not being faithful ; I therefore drew my grievances to be
presented, and refer to this and the forementioned paper as a part
of my testimony against the wTongs done to a holy God in this
backsliding; age.

yames Robertson. 253

" 3. I leave my testimony against all unfaithfulness in ministers,
for their dark and ambiguous manner of preaching, in not giving
free, full, and faithful warning of the duty and dangers of our day ;
they either altogether leaving off preaching, as if seeming and ap-
parent hazard loosed them from that command, which is, to preach
in season and out of season, etc. ; or turning the edge of their doc-
trine against the most faithful in the land, and taking the faults and
failings of the saints in Scripture to defend them in their sinful,
defective, conniving, and complying courses; which is a wresting of
the Scripture ; for these are set down for our admonition, not to split
upon such rocks.

" And oh, how many professors are guilty also in this matter !
They cannot deny it to be a fault, viz., such and such things ; yet
they cannot state their sufferings on them. Now undeniably this is
a presumptuous sinning, venturing upon it ; because God is merciful,
this is a daring of Him to His face. Surely David was not of this
mind of it : ' Who can understand his errors : cleanse Thou me from
secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins ;
let them not have dominion over me' (Ps. xix. 12, 13). 'But the
soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in the
land, or a stranger, the. same reproacheth the Lord ; and that soul
shall be cut off from among his people ' (Numb. xv. 30).

" 4. I give my testimony against that Erastian Indulgence, and such
as join with them, because they entered not by the right door, but
by the order of the usurper, whereas Christ is the only door (John x.
i). But this I will say, that those who will not, nor dare not take
that usurper's portion, lest they be defiled thereby, their counte-
nance shall outshine the other, and be fatter and fairer in the day
when they are to be proved before the King (Dan. i. 15).

" 5. I give my testimony against all the hearers of these abomin-
able Tested curates throughout the land ; so in particular against that
corner of the land, viz., Kilmarnock and the country thereabout,
where I was apprehended ; which I was then persuaded of, and yet
am, that it was so ordered that I might in particular witness against
them for their compearing at courts, subscribing bonds, paying fines
which includeth in it an acknowledgment of a fault, building that
which formerly they did destroy, and destroying that which formerly
they builded, and that according to God's Word ; and these who
formerly were leaders in the way of truth, elders and old professors,
are now as active by example and advice in the present course, and

2 54 -^ Cloud of Witnesses.

so are a stumbling-block to others. Offences must come, but woe
to them by whom they come ; better it were that a millstone were
hanged about their necks, and they were cast into the midst of the
sea. Oh ! that ye who have formerly known the way of truth, would
study more stability, and let not your liberty become a stumbling-
block to others.

" 6. I bear my testimony against all profanity and profane per-
sons, against all atheism and atheists, practical and professed, not
only such as deny the true God by profession, but even such as do
it by practice, belying their profession ; against all enthusiasm and
enthusiasts, although these black-mouthed Erastian writers are pleased
to call the way that is now followed by the poor remnant such ; yet
my endeavours have always been to be cleared both in matters of
truth and practice, according to the Word and Spirit. But this I
think, that the Lord is about to let this generation stumble, fall, and
break their necks upon their own carnal wisdom, and each of them
upon another. But mind this, that the world by wisdom knew not
God, for it seems it is the nothings of this age that He will make
use of; out of the mouths of babes and sucklings He will perfect
His praise.

" Now I would speak in short to three sorts :

" I. You that are strangers and enemies to this lovely Lord, let
your estrangement be done away ; break off your sins by repentance,
consider the hazard you are in, even of eternal wrath and scorching
hell-fire for ever. Oh ! this condescending love of God, that is laid
out in this manner ! Oh ! ye that are enemies to His interest and
people, mind, that justice, even wrathful justice, is ready to be poured
out upon you ! Oh ! therefore come off. Repent and turn in unto
this so favourable and merciful a God. Leave off your persecution.
Come unto Him ; there is mercy with Him that He may be
feared ; and if ye will not return, then His wrath will be upon you
to all eternity.

" 2. Ye that have sometimes known what it was to be in God's
favour, and had much love and tenderness for Him, His work and
interest, cause and covenant, as it was reformed in this land, and now
are fallen from your first love. Oh ! endeavour to have in mind the
love of your espousals, when ye and Christ were hand-fasted \i.e., be-
trothed]. Oh ! consider aright what a great difference there is between
your love, faith, knowledge, zeal, tenderness now, in regard of what it
then was. Therefore, take a right look of matters, and weigh them

y antes Robertson. 255

aright in the balance of the sanctuary, both as to your own particular
case, and the case of His church ; and turn to Him with speedy and
unfeigned repentance ; for he that turns aside to crooked ways, shall
be led forth with the workers of iniquity. Oh ! therefore turn in time,
lest repentance be hid from your eyes. Oh ! as ye love the glory of
God, the good of your own souls, and the advantage of the Church
(if such an one as I may be so bold as to invite you, now going out
of time into eternity) ; as ye would not be partakers of the plagues
that are to come upon such a generation, come off with speed.

" 3. You that are in good terms with God, and are helped to keep
by His way, break not your peace by turning aside to crooked ways.
Entertain love ; keep and hold fast your integrity in this day, when
many have broken the bargain with Him, now when the language of
many is this, 'These are hard sayings, who can hear them?' and
now that this is His language to you, 'Will ye also leave me?'
Oh ! let this be the language of every ingenuous soul, * To whom
shall we go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life.' Make sure salva-
tion to yourselves ; thereby ye shall be the more fit to follow Him
in this day, when He is casting forth His red flag and marching.
Many follow Him when the white flag of peace is flourishing ; but
they are ill worthy of the sweet who will not take part with Him in
the bitterest and sharpest sufferings. For what is the greatest of
suft'erings that can come from man, coming upon His account, in
regard of what He suffered for us ; even the heavy wrath of God,
which would have pressed us down to the pit through all eternity.

" And may not the consideration of this oblige you ? I can speak
it to His commendation, that He can make the cross light and easy,
for He will bear it and you both. And seeing everlasting arms are
underneath, have ye not ground to expect that He will not let His
own arm be crushed ? He can strew the cross all with roses. I dare
not say that ever I met with a cross ; for when the strait hath been
greatest, then He kythed \i.e., manifested] His kindness most. Oh !
the rich manifestations that He giveth to the soul under the cross !
Yea, it is all paved with love. Who would not go through a sea of
bloody sufferings with Him and for Him. He is the rose of Sharon
and the lily of the valley ; He is fair and ruddy, the chief among ten
thousand of thousands. Oh ! who can describe Him ? He is the
only precious object, altogether lovely. If He were seen and known,
who would not love Him ? He is both lovely and loving ; the soul
may solace itself in Him, under the greatest of straits.

2 5t) A Cloud of Witnesses.

" Now ye that have received Him, walk worthy of Him. Oh !
who knows what is in love ? ' Herein is our love made perfect, that we
may have boldness in the day of judgment ; because as He is, so are
we in this world ' (i John iv. 17). How is that ; though in the world,
yet not of the world ? ' There is no fear in love, but perfect love
casteth out fear ; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not
made perfect in love ' (verse 18). Now the reason of our love is ' We
love Him because He first loved us ' (verse 19). Now, dear friends,
ye that are helped to keep by Him, think it not strange, though the
world hate you ; it hated Himself He was a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief If ye were of the world, the world would love
its own ; should we not be as pilgrims and strangers, travelling,
seeking an heavenly country ? There is a rest for the people of God,
and to whom is this rest appointed but to the weary passengers ?

" Now, I am given out by the enemies and professors, as being
prodigal of my life, and leading of my two brethren [John Finlay and
William Cochrane] to the death. But they are both false charges,
for I have found more straitness and steadfastness in them than I
can find in myself As for the other, I have so much of humanity
that I love my life, but cannot redeem it with the loss of my integrity,
and denial of any of His precious truths. I durst not make a shift
to have any favour of the enemies, nor to touch, taste, nor handle
with them ; for their dainties are deceitful meat. And there is one
Scripture which at my first coming to prison confirmed me, ' Be care-
ful for nothing ; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God' (Phil. iv. 6.)

" Now, dear friends, encourage yourselves in the Lord, and stand
fast in one spirit, striving together for the faith of Jesus. Ixt nothing
damp your courage, zeal, tenderness, and faithfulness for this so
lovely a Lord. And let brotherly love always continue. Beware of
rocks, both on the right and left hand ; we have beacons set up for
both, to our sad experience, in this poor Church. Beware of per-
emptoriness, passion, and pride, for there may be (and I fear, is) a
spiritual pride, as well as a natural. Carry [/>., act] suitably to these
who are without, and to them that are within. Endeavour to have
a union in the Lord obtained, and entertained. Mix not the fire of
true zeal with the wild sparks of carnal passion. But let meekness
of spirit, Avith a Christian, godly, and faithful conversation, adorn the
doctrine of God our Sanour.

" The breakings of the remnant (I may Avarrantably say) have lain

The Grassmarket, Edinburgh.

(From the Coivgatehead.)

James Robertson. 257

heavier upon my spirit than all that I have met with from the enemy.
And if ye will not get together, wrath will be uj)on you. Oh ! for
that day, when they shall be made one stick in His hand, when it
shall be as in Isa. xi. 13, 14, ' The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and
the adversaries of Judah shall be cut oft"; Ephraim shall not envy
Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon
the shoulders of the Philistines towards the west ; they shall spoil
them of the east together -, ' and that Scripture, ' Suffer not sin upon
thy brother's soul, but in anywise reprove him.' Seek to reclaim
them that are fallen. ' Ye that are spiritual, restore such an one in
the spirit of meekness.' Follow a Gospel method. Beware of self-
seeking ; and let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he
fall. I am not here speaking to these that are going on in homo-
logating these God-provoking, Christ-dethroning, Church-ruining and
land desolating courses, but to the wrestling remnant.

" Now death is not a whit terrible to me : ' O death, where is thy
sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law. But thanks b€ to God, which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ' (i Cor. xv. 55-7).
1 think this is His language to me, ' iVrise ye, and depart ; for this
is not your rest, because it is polluted' (Micah. ii. 10). ' For we
know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens ' (2 Cor. v. i).

" Now, as to His way with His Church, it is mysterious. His
way is in the deep ; His paths are in the mighty waters ; but the
thought of this I cannot put oft' my spirit, but that He hath thoughts
of good and not of evil, to give this poor Church an expected end.
But I am persuaded of this, that He hath some other work ado before
that be accomplished, for falling from her first love, and the great in-
gratitude for the great and high privileges formerly enjoyed. But be
not discouraged, nor sinfully anxious, neither about the Church nor
the remnant, but wait on God in His own way, and commit all to
Him, and He shall bring it to pass. It may come in a way least ex-
pected (I have no doubt about it), that His power, infiniteness, and
sovereignty, may yet more appear.

" Now, I declare I am free of the blood of all men, and though
man had never public scandal to charge me with, yet I am one of
the chief of saved sinners. And in respect of original, actual, and
omissional sin, there hath been as much guiltiness in me as might and

258 A Cloud of Witnesses.

would have weighted down to the pit the whole world ; but my
lovely Lord hath showed me warm blinks of His love. Oh ! for love
to give to this lovely Lord Jesus, according to that Scripture, ' Come,
and I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my soul.' Upon the
day before I received sentence, I met with a great measure and a full
gale of the Spirit, wherein my heart was both melted and enlarged,
winning [?>., getting] near to Him, both alone and with the rest. But
a little thereafter, in going to Him alone, I found Him hiding; and
being sensible of it, my heart in some measure panted after Him yet
absent. So going to the Word, I was directed to i John v. 14, 15,
' This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing
according to His will, He heareth us ; and if we know that He hear
us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we
desired of Him,' which did, in no small measure, settle and comfort
my spirit. So meditating a little, and considering how these two
could consist together, I was answered thus, ' Because they have no
changes, therefore, they fear not God.' And since, I bless His holy
name, I have had great composure of spirit.

" Now, according to my blessed Lord's command, I am not pre-
possessed with malice or a spirit of revenge, but can bless when cursed.
As for these men that are unjustly taking away my life, not only con-
trary to the law of God and the ancient and fundamental laws of the
land, but even contrary to their own law ; for what they are doing
against me, as I am in myself, I can freely forgive them and all
others. But as they do it against the image of God in me, and upon
His truth's account, and so against Himself, that is not mine to for-
give; but I leave it to Him to whom vengeance belongeth to deal with
them as He may best glorify Himself.

" Now, I rejoice in my lot, for it hath fallen to me in pleasant
places, and I have a goodly inheritance. I Avould not exchange it
with the greatest monarch upon the earth. Oh ! let heaven and earth
praise Him ; sun and moon, praise Him. Oh ! all the creation, praise
Him ; angels and glorified saints, praise Him through all the ages of
eternity.

" Now farewell all things in time. Farewell Holy Scriptures.
Farewell prayer, meditation, faith, hope. Farewell all true friends.
Welcome heaven. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Wel-
come angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. Welcome
praises for evermore. " Sic subscribitur,

"JAMES ROBERTSON."

John Finlay.

OHN FINLAY was "a dear comrade of James Robertson."
It was a visit to him, when in Kihnarnock prison, that led
to Robertson's apprehension.

His testimony does not appear in the first edition. It was added
in the fifth edition, issued in 175 1. In the first edition there is the
following note at the close of James Robertson's testimony :

" At the same time and place suffered John Findlay, who lived in
the parish of Kilmarnock, whose testimony is not only the same in
substance with this of James Robertson, they being sentenced upon
the same heads, and adhering to the same trutlis, but also, for the
most part, they agree in expression. And therefore, to avoid all un-
necessary repetitions, it is here omitted."

Its contents justify the description given of it by the compilers of
the " Cloud." It is very similar to Robertson's testimony, and where
it differs it is by no means an improvement. Indeed, perhaps, no
one of the testimonies in the volume is so defective in expression. It
must have been taken down from his lips, as he was no scholar. But
although illiterate, John Finlay was a good man. He says, " I have
sweet peace in my lovely Lord." Wodrow gives from the "Justiciary
Records " the interrogations put to him before the Council.

" Being interrogated whether it be lawful to rise in arms against tne
king ? refuses to answer, these being kittle questions, and he a poor
prisoner. Refuses to say God save the king, but says he loves the
king as well as any person. Confesseth he was present at Drumclog,
but without arms. Being asked, if he conversed with Mr Donald
Cargill within these two years ? he refuses to answer otherwise than
that a man is neither by the law of God nor man bound to have a
hand in shedding his own blood. Declares he cannot write."

For these answers his life was taken away. — Ed.]

!6o A Clottd of Witnesses.

HE LAST SPEECH and TESTIMONY of John
FiNLAY, who lived in the Muirside, in the parish of
Kilmarnock, and suffered in the Grassmarket of Edin-
burgh, December 15, 1682.

"Men and Brethren, — Showing you that I am
condemned unjustly by a generation of bloody men
who are thirsting after the blood of the saints of God,
and upon no other account but for my being found in the way of my
duty in the sight of God ; glory to His holy name for it, though gone
about with many failings, and much imperfections, for adhering to
Christ in all His offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King, and for my
following Him in all His persecuted Gospel truths. The articles of
my indictment were for —

" I. My keeping company with the persecuted people of God,
mmisters and others, for which with my whole soul I bless Him that
ever He honoured me with such company, and in token of His coun-
tenance He hath kept me in that company.

" 2. For my being in company and converse with Mr Donald
Cargill (for which with my whole soul I desire to bless and magnify
the riches of His grace, that ever He conferred such company upon
such a sinful wretch), and Mr [John] King, Mr Richard Cameron,
Mr [John] Kid, in particular.

" 3. My refusing to call the Bishop's death murder, which I durst
not do, it being God's righteous judgment upon him.

" 4. My not calling Bothwell Bridge rebellion ; it being in defence
of themselves and of the Gospel, which is lawful in God's sight ; and
therefore I durst not call it rebellion.

" 5. My giving meat, drink, and comfort, to the persecuted people
of God ; which I did willingly and with my whole heart ; and herein
I have sweet peace this day, as in Matthew, x. 42 : ' And whosoever
shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no
wise lose his reward;" which He hath made out to me abundantly
to the full.

" 6. For my being commanded to say, ' God save the king,' which
I durst not do for my ver}- soul ; their bidding us do it in test of our

yokn Finlay. 261

loyalty, to save him in his person, and government, and authority ;
which is a perfect owning of him in all that he hath done, in his usur-
pation upon Christ's prerogatives and privileges, they having made
him supreme head in all matters and causes, civil and ecclesiastic ;
which if I had done, it had been a flat denying of Christ, and a join-
ing with him and them, (I mean Charles Stuart,) in all that they have
done in overturning of the glorious work of Reformation in these lands,
and all the wrongs done to the Gospel and people of God in this day ;
which would have made me odious in the sight of God and before
the world, for which I bless Him He hath kept me from, as the Scrip-
ture saith, ' He that is not faithful in the little, will not be faithful in
that which is much.'

" 7. Being asked if I would not pray for the king ? I said, Yes.
Do it then. I said, according to the Scripture. They said, He will
pray for him as he is a man, but not as he is king, which is high
treason and rebellion. Now my friends, I being conscientious to my-
self, that my owning hmi as my king was a casting off Christ Jesus,
who is Head and King of Zion, and taking on with him, and so would
have incurred the wrath of God, and homologated all the bloodshed
and all the horrid bloody abominations they have committed in the
land, with avowed defying of the great God. Oh ! who dare join with
such avowed enemies of our God, and so cast off the society of the
saints, and give the hand of fellowship to such bloody and man-
sworn wretches, that are making it their whole work to root out
godliness out of this covenanted land, that the name of Israel shall
no more be made mention of. But they will be all beguiled, for
Christ will reign till all His enemies be made His footstool.

" I. I give my t'^stimony to the sure word of God, which is the
Scriptures of truth.

"2. I give my testimony to the way of salvation through Jesus
Christ, and that by His satisfaction.

" 3. I bear my testimony to the work of Reformation as it was re-
formed from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianisra, and other errors, as it is
contained in the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

" 4. I give my testimony to the Covenants, National and Solemn
League, and Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to
Duties, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship, and to the
Causes of God's Wrath, drawn up by the General Assembly of the
Church, after their meeting with the rotten-hearted malignant, Charles
Stuart.

262 A Cloicd of Witnesses.

" 5. I bear my testimony to the faithful actings of the Remonstra-
tors against malignants and the malignant interest, which is the very
thing contended for by the true Presbyterians of the Church of Scot-
land.

" 6. I give my testimony, not to go further back, seeing it homolo-
gates the rest of that notable testimony given at Lanark against that
tyrant, and die Test, enacted by that late Parliament, which I could
not but look upon in the time of carrying it on, and yet do, that the
remnant was owned of the Lord.

" 7. I bear my testimony to all the faithful testimonies of the
martyrs that have gone before us, whether on scaffolds, or on the
fields, or in the seas.

" 8. I bear my testimony to all appearances in arms, for defence
of the Gospel.

" 9. I bear my testimony to the faithful preaching of the Gospel
that hath been in the fields by the faithful and sent messengers of
Jesus Christ, according to His own mission, preaching days, com-
munion days, and fast days, by Messrs Cargill, King, Kid, Cameron,
and Douglas.

" 10. and lastly. I bear my testimony to the fellowship meetings
of the Lord's people, particular and general. My soul hath been
many a time refreshed with His presence, in company with them.
" Likewise :

" I. I bear my testimony against the public Resolutioners for
taking in the malignant interest, for which this poor Church is smart-
ing this day, and feeling the weight of the tyrant's hand for such eager
lusting after a king.

" 2. I bear my testimony against the Hamilton Declaration, which
is one and the same with the Resolutioners, for taking in the foresaid
interest, contrary to the land's engagements in Covenant.

" 3. For corrupting the army and other things, such as the ex-
communicated tyrant's interest, cess, and all other impositions of that
nature, for the down-bearing of Christ's interest, doing it against a
holy God.

" 4. I bear my testimony against Indulged ministers, for their not
coming in by the door, but by the mission of men : ' He that entereth
not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way,
the same is a thief and a robber' (John x. i) ; they being entered by
the tyrant and not by the door, are become men-servants, and not ser-
vants to Jesus Christ, and so are become an Erastian party, which hath

John Finlay. 263

wronged our Lord and King more than the bloody Prelatic party
hath done these twenty years by-gone, by their rending the Church's
bowels, and for dividing many a bosom friend, to the great hurt of
the Gospel.

"5. I leave my testimony against all corrupt ministers, sheltering
themselves under their wings, strengthening the stakes of that planta-
tion, and for their dark and ambiguous preaching, in not declaring
the whole counsel of God.

" 6. I leave my testimony against all the enemies and wrongers of
my Lord's glorious privileges and prerogatives, all in general. I leave
my testimony against that bloody murderer, John Reid, which
murdered a woman in the town of Newmilns, and now is carrying
arms against Christ and His followers, who took me, and confessed
to me that he had not an order for it. And against that party that
carried me to Edinburgh ; and especially Alexander Gemmil, my
neighbour, for he vexed me more than all that party, for he said I
married folk, and baptized children, and mocked me most dread-
fully.

" A line of advice to two or three sorts of folk ;

" To you that are old professors and Covenanters in the West of
vScotland, and especially in Kilmarnock parish. What are ye doing ?
Where are ye now, by when \i.e.^ since] ye swore the Covenant, and
swore against Popery and Prelacy, and all that faction, side, and
party ? How are ye prosecuting the ends of that Covenant, now
in the sight of God, and the oath of God, that ye swore with hands
lifted up to the most high God, and before heaven and earth, sun
and moon ? Oh ! my soul trembles to think what bad example ye
are to the young generation, ye who should have been as the he-
goats before the flock, to train them up in the way of God, and the
way of holiness and righteousness, and now ye are leading them just
the contrary. Should ye not have been more tender of the blood
of the souls of the young generation, than to turn your back upon
your profession, and turn in with the men of these abominations in
all things ? Oh ! fear the wrath of that God, who has said, ' Shall
any break the Covenant, and be delivered ?' Now, therefore, I de-
sire, as ye tender \i.e., regard] your own souls, that ye would turn
again to your first husband, for then was it better with you, than
it is now.

" Next, you that are the young generation, men and women.
What are ye doing ? Are ye following the footsteps of your fathers,

264 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

in their courses of defection, joining in hearing these perjured curates,
answering at their courts, joining in their worship with them,
in their abominable and soul-destroying courses, contrary to the
Word of God, our Solemn Covenants, and Confession of Faith,
L:irger and Shorter Catechisms, the order of the Church of Scotland,
in discipline, worship, and government, as they, ye, and I, are sworn
with hands lifted up to the most high God, which no power on earth
is able to loose, nor undo, nor frees from, no man nor woman baptized
in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ? Oh ! therefore
take heed how ye think to answer before the great sin-revenging
God, before whom I am to appear within a little space, and before
whom I and all the world will stand and be judged with righteous
judgment.

" And likewise, seeing that I dare not but show you my mind
anent some persons and their carriage in this day of Jacob's trouble,
when Zion is lying waste, and ploughing like a field :

" First, I give my testimony against these men called elders, in my
own parish, because of their complying with every course of defection
and abomination that comes alongst through the country : they being
first thought to be faithful elders in the time of the Presbyterian
government, and then turned elders to the Curate Carnegie, and then
turned elders to Mr Wedderburn, that indulged minister ; and now are
sessioners to this curate. And seeing this is true, that they have showed
themselves to be men of no principles, and the Spirit of God saying
expressly, ' Meddle not with them that are given to change ;' who
can blame me to disown them ?

" I give my testimony against John Boyd, called Bailie of Kil-
marnock, for his bloody courses in many thmgs, and especially in
his uplifting of the cess and bloody fines, and in oppressing the poor
in their consciences, and laying on of dragoons upon them most
cruelly, which he did upon me four times. I wish God may forgive
him for what he has done in that matter.

"Now, according to my blessed Lord's command, I am not pos-
sessed with malice or a spirit of revenge, but I bless when cursed. As
for these men that are unjustly taking away my life, not only contrary
to the law of God, and the ancient laws of the land, but even con-
trary to their own law ; now, for what they are doing to me, as I am
in myself, I can freely forgive them, and all others ; but as they do it
against the image of God in me, and upon His truth's account, and
so against Himself, that is not mine for to forgive, but I leave it to

John Finlay, 265

Him to whom vengeance belongs, that He may deal with them as He
may most glorify Himself,

" Oh ! if I could speak or write anything to the commendation of
the covenanted God of the Church of Scotland !

" I. I have surely many things to say, for that He trysted [?>.,
appointed] my lot to be in a nation where He hath set up His pure
worship ; whereas He might justly have letten my lot be amongst
Pagans and heathen nations, that know nothing of the true God.

" Or, 2. He might have ordered it to be among these that are
worshipping Antichrist, that whore, that monstrous beast, that sits
upon many waters ; whose sentence may be read in Revelation
xiv. 9-1 1 : 'And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud
voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the
wine of the wTath of God, which is poured out without mixture into
the cup of His indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence
of the Lamb : and the smoke of their torment ascend eih up for
ever and ever ; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship
the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his
name.' And so, as sure as God is God, and the holy Scriptures are
His word, according to which all men that have heard or seen it
shall be judged, having the sentence of absolution or condemnation
passed according thereto : ' For as many as have sinned without
law, shall also perish without law' (Rom. ii. 12); so it is clear, that
the first will surely perish, viz., all infidels, and atheists, and heathens,
and Pagans, that know not the true God nor of His law. ' And as
many as have sinned m the law shall be judged b}' the law.' And
so, whatever vain hopes the Papists may have of being saved, living
and dying Papists, or whatever charity loose professors have on that
head to give them, they are as far from being saved as devils, which
are eternally cast out of His presence.

" 3. I have Him to bless for this, that my lot is not among cor-
rupt Protestant churches abroad, Lutherans and other corruptions
and abounding errors, both in doctrine, discipline, worship, and
government, sectarian, Episcopal, or Erastian ; but in the Reformed
Church of Scotland, where all these things have been cast over the
hedge as not plants of His planting, where He hath been owned in
all His offices. Prophet, Priest, and King ; though He may say of us
in a great measure, as to the Church of Israel of old, ' I have planted

266 A Cloud of Witnesses.

thee a noble vine, but thou art become a degenerate plant of a strange
vine unto me.' In that day of planting we could have sung that
song, ' We have a strong city ; salvation will God appoint for walls
and bulwarks (Isa. xxvi. i). ' The Lord hath accomplished His fury ;
He hath poured out His fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion,
and it hath devoured the foundations thereof The kings of the
earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed
that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates
of Jerusalem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of
her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
they have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted
themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments,
(Lam. iv. 11-14). This may be our regret before God, as it is in the
7th and 8th verses : ' Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were
whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their
polishing was of sapphire : their visage is blacker than a coal ; they
are not known in the streets : their skin cleaveth to their bones ; it
is withered, it is become like a stick.' Oh ! how unnatural like
were it for the mother to let the child, the son of her womb, perisli for
lack of the breast ? Were she free of the child's blood, it perishing for
want of its natural food ? And oh ! how many are this day perishing
for want of the lively preached Gospel? Ver. 3, ' Even the sea mon-
sters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones : the
daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the
wilderness.'

" 4. I have Him to bless for this, that I am not this day fighting
against Him in an open stated war, and so bearing arms against Him
and His people, for there is no more in me as to myself than these
that are embruing their hands deeply in the blood of the saints.

" 5. I have Him to bless for this, that ever He opened mine eyes
to see the mystery of iniquity that abounds and hath its seat in the
heart : as also in some measure, a sight of the remedy in the blood
of Jesus, with His spirit engaging me to Himself, letting me see Him-
self altogether precious, making me to see that it is better to be a
doorkeeper in the house of God than to dwell in aU the pleasures of
sin for a season. ' Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and after-
ward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and
there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee' (Ps. Ixxiii. 24-25).

" 6. I have His holy name to bless that ever He honoured me
to know any thing, how small soever, of His persecuted truths, viz..

John Finlay. 267

His crown, kingdom, and privileges, now when many by their acts
and laws have taken His crown and sceptre and royal robe from
Him, and settled the whole government of His house upon a man that
is but a worm. But I believe His decree will stand, oppose it who
will. ' Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion (Ps. ii. 6).
' I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not give to
another, neither my praise to graven images (Isa. xlii. 8). Now it
is His declarative glory which that usurper hath taken to himself.
Ay, but He that leadeth captivity captive, according to His royal will
and word, will reclaim His own glory. He it is alone that hath given
Him to be the sure foundation, whereon all the building is fitly
framed : that stone which the builders have rejected is made tlie head
of the corner. ' Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, behold, 1 lay in
Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone,
a sure foundation : he that believeth shall not make haste. Judg-
ment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet,
and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall
overflow the hiding place' (Isa. xxviii. 16, 17).

"7. I bless and magnify the holy name of my God, that hath
called me to be a sufferer for His work and interest, counting it not
my shame, but a high privilege and dignifying of me, when many
famous in their generation have been denied of it, when so many are
denying, and by their practice rendering the cross of Christ of no
effect. Oh, my friends, bless and magnify your God for this, that ye
are privileged with these things, and strive to walk worthy of Him in
your places, calling, and stations, and relations, as a husband, as a
wife, as a master, as a servant, as a Christian. Study to have a
blameless conversation, as becomes the Gospel ; as far as ye can, walk
void of offence towards God and man.

" My dear friends, I have sweet peace in my lovely Lord. He
has made my prison become a palace unto me, and He has made me
many a time to bless Him for my lot, for which my soul shall praise
Him through all eternity. Therefore, my dear friends, let none of
you think it strange, concerning the fiery trial, as though some strange
thing had happened unto me, for it is in His holy wisdom. He has
made my lot sweet ; for He has made out His sweet promises unto
me, one of which is of more worth than all the world, giving me the
witness of His Spirit, bearing witness with my spirit that I have a
right to them all.

" Now, farewell all things in time. Farewell Holy Scriptures.

268

A Cloud of Witfiesses.

Farewell all Christian friends. Farewell prayer and meditation.
Farewell faith. Farewell hope. Welcome heaven, welcome Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. AVelcome angels and the souls of just men
made perfect. Welcome j)rai,ses for evermore.
" Sic siibscribitur,

"JOHN FINLAY."

V/illiam Cochran.

ILLIAM COCHRAN belonged to Carnduff, a farm about
three miles to the west of Strathaven. The first edition
calls him Mungo Cochrane, but the fourth, together with
Wodrow and Crookshanks, gives his name as above. His answers
on examination before the Council are in Wodrow, and are sub-
stantially the same as those of John Finlay : " William Cochran,
being interrogate if it be lawful for subjects to rise in arms against
the king, refuses to answer. Being interrogate, whether the king
be lawful king, answers these are kittle questions, and will say
nothing of them, being a prisoner. Being desired to say ' God save
the king,' refuses to say anythmg. Can write, but refuses to sign his
answers."

His testimony, like John Finlay's, is very similar to that of his
fellow-sufterer, James Robertson. Its chief feature is the clearness
with which it iDrings out the reason why he and man}' others who
suffered to the death refused to say "God save the king." It was
not because they were unwilling to pray for the king, but because
to say " God save the king " was regarded as an approval of all
that he had done against the Church and people of God, and the
true subjects of the kingdom, and the ancient and fundamental laws
thereof. — Ed.]

Willimn Cockran. 269

HE LAST TESTIMONY of William Cochran, wlio
lived in the parish of Evandale, and suffered in the
Grassmarket of Edinburgh, December 15, 1682.

" Loving P'riends, — Seeing I am going off time to
eternity, I think it fit now to leave my testimony to the
truths of God. And,

" I. I own the Scriptures, and acknowledge them
to be the only rule to the Church and people of God at all times, and
under all dispensations.

" 2. [I own] Jesus Christ to be the only Saviour of His people,
and head of His Church, and sole governor of His house.

" 3. I adhere to the covenanted work of Reformation, Confession
of Faith, and the Covenants and Catechisms. And I think it my
great honour and glory, that I was born a member of that Church,
and I desire to bear my testimony to all the privileges of that Church,
and also I desire to bear witness against all her enemies, especially
against Supremacy and Prelacy, and all Prelatic and Erastian courses,
and against all joiners and complyers whomsoever, with such like.

"Now I desire every behever in the Church of Scotland, to take
a look how matters stand between God and their souls, in such a
day as this. For it seems to me, that the religion which would have
done your turn at other times, will not do it now ; for His way is
now in the deeps, and ye would needs look where ye stand, when so
many are falling ; and see whether ye have made religion your only
choice or no. For except Christ be the only pearl of price to you,
and His law your delight, ye cannot hold out. For it seems to be a
great work to be self-denied, and part with all things, when they come
in competition with the truths of Christ. Your going to kirks, and
answering courts now, when they are founded upon perjury, and
seated upon the ruins of the Church; I cannot see but it is a direct
contradicting of the work of Reformation, which we are sworn to
maintain in its purity in doctrine, worship, discipline, and govern-
ment, for we should not be divided directly nor indirectly ; and
[we should not have] a joining with the enemies of the truth, when
we should neither touch nor taste with the men of these abomina-
tions.

2 70 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" O look where ye are and what will be the end, if mercy prevent
it not ; when once ye are fanged [«>., caught] in their snares, ye stand
stoutly to the defence of it, and of these that join with them in these
ensnaring courses. I desire ye would look through the causes why
the Lord contends with this poor land, and leaves them thus to con-
sume away unto dross ; for the whole land is involved in perjury, for
they are all joining together to destroy that which we were bound and
sworn to maintain both in Kirk and State.

" Ye know that the land was given away to the Lord by Covenant,
and we, with all our substance, lives, and fortunes, sworn to defend
it, to the utmost of our power. Oh ! therefore consider where ye
are now. Ye may date your perjury from the changing of the govern-
ment, and the couping up \i.c., overturning] of the work of Reforma
tion, and your being witnesses to it, and to the taking and beheading
of Argyle and Mr Guthrie, without either resisting or resenting of it,
which is astonishing to me to think upon, for ye were bound to de-
fend the lives of these two men, though all your lives should have
gone for it. I am put to wonder at Scotland's blindness.

" Ye may see that your crowning, and entering into covenant with
Charles Stuart, hath been a thing contrary to the will of the Lord,
for he and all his predecessors have still been known to be in oppo-
sition to the ways of the Lord. It seems that the Lord is still con-
tending with the land, and will contend until He consume him and
the land, because the king's sins become the people's sins, when not
witnessed against and withstood. Now ye know how he hath
ensnared the whole land by his acts, but especially his Supremacy
over the church, and intrusion on Christ's prerogatives ; and so many
ministers being in the land, and yet have not witnessed against it,
but have either kept silence, and thereby declared their unfaithful-
ness to the Lord, and the souls of them they were set over. For
ministers ought to preach in season and out of season, and set the
trumpet to their mouths, and give the people warning of every sin,
or else the Lord will require their blood at the ministers' hands. I
fear the ministers of Scotland will be found very guilty of this. They
have not given the people faithful warning against the hearing of the
curates and Indulged, for the people's testimony lay partly in for-
bearing to hear ; for they were thrust in by the king's Supremacy, and
entered not in at the door. And the Indulged have done more hurt
to the Church, than all the curates have done : for they were looked
upon to be godly men, and poor things not considering, but following

William Cochran. 271

them blindly, not looking to the Scripture and the government of the
Church ; and so have broken and divided the people.

" And our noblemen and gentlemen, from whom other things
were looked for, have deserted the cause, to the stain of their memory
to after generations. The ministers ought to have given the people
warning, and not have been so tender of men, when truth was so
wronged. For the people, many of them were like to have taken
warning ; but we see that juggling with the Lord, first and last, hath
been our ruin and wrack \i.e., wreck], and now we are brought to
nothing, and our worldly wisdom is seen to be foolishness with the
Lord. But I perceive within these two or three years that the Lord
is beginning to let us see our former ground again. And I desire
you. His poor people, to labour to win [/>., get], at it, and to hold
in it, and to be as tender of one another as ye can, without sinning
against the Lord ; for we will be all found guilty of the defection in
less or more. Therefore I desire you to humble yourselves before
the Lord, and to make conscience of mourning, and heart-broken-
ness, and weeping. For if ye had the sense of it deeply impressed
upon your hearts, as I have had since I was a prisoner, and the heart-
breaks that I have had both from one and another, but especially
from mistaken friends, ye could not but have wept with all your heart.

" But, dear friends, be not discouraged, but hold on. For this
way that I am now to suffer and lay down my life in, is, and will be
found at length to be, the way of God. There is much need of ten-
derness of, and zeal to God's glory, and of watchfulness ; for I find
there are snares on all hands, and I fear some of the Lord's choice
people will be permitted to fall.

" And likewise I desire, dear friends, that ye would keep a spirit
of sympathy with one another. I fear your straits be but coming.
And also I desire, when ye fall upon debates about the matters of
the Lord, that ye would follow the method of the Scriptures, and
His Spirit there, and cease from your bitterness, one of you against
another; for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of
the Lord. But be humbled under the sense of the public sins that
have caused us to be smitten with such sharp dispensations from the
Lord. But I think Scotland's case is like the case of Jonah, who fled
from the presence of the Lord, till he could win \i.e., get] no further,
and the Lord pursued him unto the whale's belly, till he was forced
to cry out unto the Lord. Oh ! that ye would cry, and cry aright
with broken hearts, and confess to the Lord, and forsake. Lay it

272 A Cloicd 0/ Witnesses.

home to each one of yourselves in particular, as David did, when he
transgressed against the Lord, and numbered the people. Oh ! that
ye would plead with the Lord ; and come in His mercy, and plead
for the young generation, that have not sinned away the Gospel, as
we have done, and say to the Lord, what have these silly sheep done?
Oh ! plead hard with Him, for I am persuaded He hath a kindness
for Scotland. He is dealing with the hearts of some of the young
generation, and as yet He has kept up a party contending for His
work, and will keep up some witnessing still. Yea, 1 think He will
still keej) a contending party for His work and truths until He return
again. And I think the hopes of this should encourage your hearts.

" Now the main article of my indictment upon which I have
received my sentence of death from men, was, that I would not say
'God save the king,' which (as they have now stated [i.e., estab-
lished] him an idol in the Mediator's room) I could not do, without
being guilty of saying. Amen, to all that he hath done against the
Church and people of God, and true subjects of the kingdom, and
the ancient and fundamental laws thereof ; and [so would] have done
contrary to that in the second Epistle of John, loth and nth verses :
' If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive
him not into your house, neither bid him God speed : for he that
biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.' And also
ye know, that the taking of the name of God in our mouths, is a
part of worship, and so a worshipping of their idol. For before
our faces they said, that he was king over all persons, and over all
causes ; which is putting him in God's room. But they sentenced
me because they said that I disowned authority, which was a diving
into the thoughts of my heart. Now, in obedience to what my Lord
hath commanded, I can freely forgive {as I desire to be forgiven) any-
thing that is done to me, as I am in myself; but what hath been
done against me upon the account of truth, and so striking against
God, I am not to set myself above Him, but I leave that to Himself

" Now I have great satisfaction in my lot, and I rejoice that He
hath called me to it, and I bless Him that I have been all along
helped to join with His despised work and people. And now many
are pleased to say, that I had not been apprehended as a prisoner,
if there had not been some of the suffering people of God frequently
about my mother's house ; which is a commanded duty, much com-
mended by Christ, for if any man give a cup of cold water to a disciple
in the name of a disciple, he shall not want a disciple's reward.

Andrew Gtiilline.

273

Therefore, seeing it is such, let none offend at such a work, who
look upon themselves as members of that body. What may follow,
leave that in the Lord's hand, who doth all things well, and nothing
can harm His people, being found rightly in the way of their duty.
Now as to these, who account the pure way of truth a wild principle,
T account it a greater mercy to be wild from the way of sinning, than
to be tamed thereunto ; as, alas ! most of the generation are.

" Now, farewell all true friends in Christ. Farewell holy and
sweet Scriptures, farewell sinning and suffering. Welcome heaven
and the full enjoyment of God through all eternity.
" Sic subscribitur,

•' WILLIAM COCHRAN."

I j. U^qTa-^^

Andrew Guilline.

NDREW GUILLINE, or GUILLAN, was a weaver near
Magus Muir, two miles from St Andrews, the scene of the
death of Archbishop Sharp, May 3, 1679. He was called
out of his house to hold the horses of the carriage, while Balfour and
his associates were engaged in bringing the prelate's career to an un-
expected end. In his testimony, Guilline justifies what was done to
Sharp, yet he seems to have had no share in the deed further than
that of a deeply-interested spectator. Wodrow says he endeavoured
to secure the archbishop's daughter from hurt and danger when
she would interpose betwixt the actors and him. He had told
Wodrow's informer that, when the commander ordered them to draw
their swords. Sharp's courage failed him at the sight of the cold iron,
and he made as hideous and terrible shrieks as ever were heard.

After the archbishop's death, Andrew Guilline found it prudent to
leave Magus Muir, and seek employment elsewhere. In the " Pas-
sages in the Lives of Helen Alexander and James Currie of Pent-
land," Helen Alexander says : " And about the year 1682, Andrew
Gulon, who was execute, did sometimes come to my house ; for I
always thought it my duty to harbour any of the godly ; and if I

274 -^ Cloud of Witnesses.

thought tliey were godly, though they differed in judgment, yet I
wilUngly entertained them, but especially those who were straightest
in their judgment, and those who were most persecute for righteous-
ness' sake And so he being taken, it was thought that Mr

M'Naught, the curate, had informed against me to the Council, and
the Council put it to the laird to apprehend me. . . . When I had
been some days in prison, I was brought down from the prison to the
Abbey by a guard of soldiers to the Chancellor and Bishop Paterson.
. . . And when I was brought before the Chancellor (who was pre-
sident) and Bishop Paterson, I was interrogated by Sir William
Paterson if I went to the kirk. I said I would not go to the kirk
though they should take my life from me. They questioned me if
Andrew Gulon came to my house, and I said, He did. He asked
me why I gave him cloth to work \ I answered. He was honest. He
asked if any vagabonds came to my house, and I said. No (for so
they termed these sufferers)."

On the nth of June 1683, four years after the death of Sharp, he
was at work in Cockpen, a parish a few miles to the south-east of
Edinburgh, when the curate came by, and asked him where he was
last Lord's day, and if he attended the parish church ? Andrew de-
chned to own him as his minister, or to answer his questions. The
curate now called for some of his adherents in the parish, who seized
Guilline and carried him to the village of Cockpen. Here he was
pressed to drink the king's health, which he refused to do, on the
plea that he drank no healths. His refusal awakened further sus-
picion, and he was taken to Dalkeith prison, and from thence to
Edinburgh, where, after examination, he was put into the iron house,
a room on the second floor of the Tolbooth, specially appropriated
for felons. The iron bar or goad, to which they were chained, a bar
of \vrought iron, twelve feet long by two and a half inches in dia-
meter, is still preserved in the museum of the Society of Antiquaries
in Edinburgh.

As yet nothing was known of his presence at the death of the
Archbishop. By and by a rumour came to Edinburgh that he had
been present, but there was no evidence to make the rumour a
fact. Andrew Guilline himself was made to give the evidence de-
sired. He was again examined, and the Advocate, while examining
him, spoke of the death as a horrid murder, and affirmed, that when
the Archbishop was upon his knees in prayer, they should have
killed him. This misrepresentation was too much for Andrew,

Andrew Guilline. 275

who had been unable to forget Sharp's prayerlessness in his last
moments, and the unsuspecting man lifted up his hands in sur-
prise, and exclaimed, •' Oh ! dreadful, he would not pray one word
for all that could be said to him." This was enough for his enemies.
An indictment was drawn up, and he was tried July 18. The jury
brought him in guilty of the Archbishop's death. And he was
sentenced to be taken to the Cross of Edinburgh upon Friday, July
20, and to have both his hands cut off at the foot of the gallows, and
then hanged, his head to be cut off, and fixed at Cupar, and his body
to be carried to Magus Muir, and hung up in chains.

At the close of his testimony an account is given of the cruel
manner in which this sentence was carried out to the letter.

His body was not allowed to hang in chains many months. Some
of his friends took it down. They seem to have been discovered,
as the Records of the Council, May 27, 1684, contain a sentence of
banishment on them as owning the Archbishop's "horrid murder."

Guilline was the only one concerned in the death of Sharp who
suffered on its account, for Hackstoun was taken at Airsmoss. Ail
the others escaped.

Fountainhall's notice of him is: *' Andrew Gullan, weaver in Balme-
rino, who was at Archbishop Sharpe's murder, being taken at Cockpen,
was execute the 13th July 1683 ; died hardened and insensible."

The first edition gives only the month, but not the day of his
execution. It is left blank. We have supplied it from the record
of his sentence given by Wodrow. Fountainhall, as he sometimes
is in minor details, is clearly wrong in the date. — Ed.]

-g^^i^ <

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of Andrew
Guilline, Weaver, who lived in the Shire of Fife, and
suffered at the Gallowlee, Edinburgh, July [20] 1683.

" My Dear Friends, — Being here to die for my
dearest Lord's precious truths, I thought fit to leave
this with you as my last advice. Seek to do good to
all in your day. Let your moderation be known unto
all men. Study to be employing [yourselves for] your God, for there

276 A Cloud of Witnesses.

is sudden wrath pronounced from heaven against all that have been
doing, or continue in doing evil ; for He has said, ' Pour out Thy
fury upon the heathen that know Thee not, and upon the families
that call not on Thy name ' (Jer. x. 25). We had need to know
what we shall answer, when we shall come before Him, with whom
we have to do ; for He is a holy God, and a consuming fire to the
workers of iniquity. Wherefore, dear friends, study holiness in all
manner of conversation. Make it your earnest care to have your
conversation as becomes the Gospel ; and then He will be forthcom-
ing unto you

" My friends, I leave you with the Lord, who hath promised to
be the God of His people. He is given of the Father to be a leader
and commander to His people, and He will lead them. And I en-
treat every particular person never to be at rest till they give away
themselves personally in covenant to God, and promise through His
grace to be for Him, and not for another 1 leave you to Him who
leads Joseph like a flock. If ye would have Him speaking peace to
you in your life, and in your end, cleave to the Son of God, and His
truths. And remember, if speedy repentance do not prevent, you
will utterly ruin your immortal souls Now, my dear friends, ye that
are desiring singly to stand for God, hold on your way, and wait for
the Lord, and quit not a hoof of the truth. He will be an up-making
God to you, and He has promised to be a present help to you in the
time of your need.

" There is a great confluence come here at this time ; I wish
with all my heart they would get good by their coming. I am come
here to lay down my Hfe. I declare I die not as a murderer, or as
an evil doer ; although this covenant-breaking, perjured, murdering
generation lay it to my charge as though I were a murderer, on ac-
count of the justice that was executed on that Judas \i.e.. Archbishop
Sharp] that sold the Kirk of Scotland for 50,000 merks a-year. And
we being bound to extirpate Popery and Prelacy, and tliat to the
utmost of our power, and we having no other that were appearing
for God at that day, but such as took away his life ; therefore, I was
bound to join with them in defending the true religion. And all the
land, every man, was bound in covenant, when he had sold the
Church — they were bound, I say, to meet him by the way, when he
came dowm from London, and have put him presently to the edge of
the sword for that heinous indignity done to the holy Son of God.

" But it is (alas !) too apparent that men have never known God

Andrew Guilline. 277

rightly, nor considered that He is a holy God. Oh ! terrible back-
sliding, they will not believe that God will call them to an account
for what they owed to God. But assure yourselves ; as He is in
heaven, He will call every one to an account, how they have stood to
that Covenant and work of Reformation. I need say no more ; but I
would have you consider, that in breaking the Covenant, we have
trampled under foot the precious truths of Jesus Christ.

" Now, being straitened of time, I must leave off writing. Where-
fore, farewell holy Scriptures, wherewith my soul hath been many a
day refreshed. Farewell sweet societies with whom I have been,
whose company was only refreshful to me. Farewell my mother,
brethren, sisters, and all other relations. Farewell all earthly plea-
sures. Farewell sun, moon, and stars. Welcome spirits of just
men made perfect. Welcome angels. Welcome Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost — into whose hands I commit my spirit !
" Sic subscribitur,

"ANDREW GUILLINE."

HE inhuman treatment this martyr met with ought not to be
forgot, as a pregnant instance of the hellish rage and fury of
these persecutors, and of the Lord's rich grace, who wonder-
fully countenanced and strengthened him to endure tlie tortures in-
flicted upon him with an undaunted braveness of spirit. For, besides
the tortures he suftered in prison, they ordered both his hands to be
cut off, while he was alive. And it was observed by on-lookers, that
though by reason the executioner was drunk, he received nine strokes
in cutting them off, yet he bore it with invincible patience. And
after the right hand was cut off, he held out the stump in view of the
multitude, saying —

" As my blessed Lord sealed my salvation with His blood, .so 1
am honoured this day to seal His truths with my blood."

Afterwards, being strangled a little, his head was cut off, and it,
with the hands, placed upon the Netherbow Port of Edinburgh ; and
his entrails being taken out, his body was conveyed to Magus Muir,
and there hung up in chains on a high pole.

John Cochran.

|OHN COCHRAN was a shoemaker in Lesmahagow. He
was brought before the Council, November 26, 1683, and
examined. On the 28th he was tried before the Justiciary
Court on the charge of treason and being at Bothwell. No proof
was brought against him, except his own answers, when under exami-
nation, which the Records of the Justiciary Court give very much as
he states them himself in his testimony. He was found guilty, and
sentenced to be executed at the Cross, on Friday, November 30,
1683.

As stated in the note of the compilers, John Cochran was tried
and suffered at the same time with John Whitelaw and Arthur Bruce.

John Whitelaw belonged to New Monkland in Lanarkshire. At
his trial his confession was read to him, a confession doubtless framed
in the same way as that of John Cochran from his answers when exa-
mined before the Council. It is —

"John Whitelaw declares he thinks Bothwell Bridge lawful, that
rising being in defence of the Gospel. He thinks himself and these
three nations bound by the Covenants. That it is above his reach to
tell whether the king be lawful king or not. Confesseth he was some-
time with the rebels at Bothwell, but not at the battle, and that he
had a sword. Refuses to say, ' God save the king,' this not being
the proper place for prayer, and if it mean his owning his authority,
he has spoken as to that already. Declares he can write, but will
not sign what is above. Being interrogate if his judges were lawful
judges, and if the Archbishop's death was murder, he answers, these
questions are above his reach."

Arthur Bruce belonged to Dalserf, Lanarkshire. His confession
was also the only evidence against him :

" Arthur Bruce confesseth he was at Bothwell, and had a sword ;
that he was with the party that took away one of Dalziel's horses ;
refuses to say, ' God save the king,' but said, ' God save all the elec-

yohn Cochran. 279

tion of grace ; declares he cannot say whether the Archbishop's
death was murder or not."

Wodrow testifies of all three that they died in much peace and
comfort. — Ed.]

HE LAST TESTIMONY of John Cochran, who
lived in the parish of Lesraahagow, and suffered at the
Cross of Edinburgh, upon the 30th of November
1683.

" Being brought before the Lords of Justiciary,
they asked, ' Where I went in to the rebels ? ' I an-
swered, ' I went in to the people of God, whom ye call
so, at Drumclog.'

" They asked, ' If I had arms ? ' I told, ' I had a fork.'

" They asked, ' If I thought it rebeUion ? ' I said, ' No.'

" And they said, ' What was it then ? ' I told them, ' It was in
defence of the Gospel.'

" They asked, ' If I did own the authority?' I told them, 'As
far as it did agree with the word of God.'

" Then they asked, ' If I would pray for the king ? ' I told them
' That prayer should be gone about in decency and order.'

" Then they asked, * If I would say, " God save the king ? " '
And I refused.

"Then they said, 'Was I not bound to pray for him?' I told
them, ' That I was bound to pray for all that were within the bounds
of election '

" Then they said, ' Was the Bishop's death murder? ' I told, ' I
was no judge.'

" Then they asked, ' If I was at Bothwell ? ' I told, ' I was.'

" They said, ' Was it rebellion ? ' I said, * No.'

" Then I was taken back to prison again, and the irons laid on
me. But, blessed be the Lord, that was no discouragement to me ;
for, when the storm blew hardest, the smiles of my Lord were at the
sweetest. It is matter of rejoicing unto me, to think how my Lord
hath passed by many a tall cedar, and hath laid His love upon a poor
bramble-bush, the like of me. And oh ! that I could bless the Lord

28o A Cloud of IVihiesses.

for it, and say, ' Come all ye that fear the Lord, and I will tell you
what He hath done for my soul.' And now I am made to say, that
the Lord doth all things well, and holy is His name. And as for my
part, I have good cause to bless the Lord that ever I was a hearer
of the persecuted Gospel, and however the world think of us, that
our lot is hard in a world, yet remember, that He saith in His holy
word, that whosoever will live godly, must suffer persecution ; and
whosoever will not take up his cross and follow Me, is not worthy of
Me : and fear not him that can kill the body ; but He hath said, 1
will forewarn you whom ye shall fear ; fear Him that can kill both
soul and body, and cast both into hell. And if judgment begin at
the house of God, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear in that
day, when He shall take vengeance on them that fear Him not, and
obey not the Gospel ?

" And now, alas ! I am afraid, that even much of the Gospel
amongst us will be a witness against us ; for it was the judgment of
Capernaum that so many mighty works were done in it, and yet they
believed not : and yet, for all that came upon it, it was said to be
exalted up to heaven, and then we hear of its being thrust down to
hell. Even so I fear, the having of so much light is the plague of
our land ; for it was once a praise to all the earth, but now a mocking,
even among the heathens.

" And now, as a dying man, I do heartily declare my adherence
unto all the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament ; and
preaching of the blessed Gospel by a faithful sent Presbyterian
Gospel ministry. As also, I do with all my soul and heart agree with,
and assent unto the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Cate-
chisms, the Sum of Saving Knowledge, the National and Solemn
League and Covenants, Directory for W^orship, the Solemn Acknow-
ledgment of public Sins and Breaches of the Covenant, and Engage-
ment to all Duties, together with all and whatsoever is contained
within the foresaid book.

" And likewise, I do hereby heartily witness and testify against
Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, Heresy, and other errors, especially
Quakerism, and whatsoever is disconform, and disagreeable to the
holy Scriptures, and these other sound writings above-mentioned.
And siclike [i.e., in the same manner] I witness and testify my ab-
horrence and detestation of that abominable and blasphemous Test,
which is now so violently pressed upon the people, tending to the de-
struction of their souls.

y ohn IVkarry.

281

" Moreover, I leave my wife and six small children to the care
and protection of the almighty God, who hath promised to be a
father to the fatherless, and an husband to the widow : and my soul
to God who gave it, for whose cause I now willingly lay down my life.
And I bid farewell to all earthly and carnal comforts.

" Farewell all Christian acquaintance ; and welcome Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, into whose hands I do commit my spirit.
" Sic subscribiiur,

"JOHN COCHRAN."

r the same time also suffered upon the same heads of truth,
and adhering to the same testimony, these two pious martyrs,
John Whitelaw and Arthur Bruce, who were interrogate
upon the same things before the council of Lords of Justiciary, and
do agree with the foregoing martyr in every respect, and express in
their testimonies the like satisfaction with their lot and cheerfulness
under the cross, and their adherence to the same principles, and
abhorrence of the same errors.

John Wharry.

OHN M'WHARRIE, or John Wharry as he is called by
tlie compilers of the " Cloud," was the younger brother <
the laird of uScorryholm, a small property on the Logan
water, about three miit-s to the south-west of Lesmahagow. He
was at the battle of Bothwell Bridge. In Mr J. B. Greenshield's
valuable Annals of Lesmahagow, his sword, an Andrea Ferrara, is
said to be in possession of J. G. M'Kirdy, Esq. of Birkwood. His
presence at Bothwell Bridge seems to have been unknown to his
captors, for he was apprehended on an entirely different charge.

Alexander Smith, of the parish of Cambusnethan, was seized
in May 1681, and taken to Edinburgh on the charge of being at
Bothwell. He escaped out of prison, disguised in women's clothing*

282 A Cloud of Witnesses.

but was aftenvards captured. A party of soldiers were taking him
again to prison, and when at Inchbelly Bridge, about a mile to the
east of Kirkintilloch, a few country people suddenly attacked them
and rescued the prisoner. In the affray some were wounded on both
sides, and a soldier killed. The country people retired in good order,
and Alexander Smith got off in safety. He lived to be taken priso-
ner in 1685, and was sent to Dunottar Castle, a lonely prison, now
in ruins on a rock on the sea-shore, not far from Stonehaven. He
soon afterwards again escaped, and was again captured in 1687, and
was kept in prison till the Revolution of 1688 set him free.

After Alexander Smith and his friends were out of sight, the sol-
diers rallied and went in search of them. In a wood about three-
quarters of a mile east from Inchbelly Bridge, at a spot still pointed
out, they came upon John M'Wharrie and James Smith, sitting without
arms, and merely with walking sticks in their hands. The soldiers al-
leged they belonged to the company that rescued Alexander Smith, and
brought them to Glasgow prison. At their preliminary examination,
the soldiers suborned of their number to depone they saw them kill
the man at Inchbelly Bridge ; but at their trial no witnesses were
produced, and they made no confession. Nevertheless, the court
judged the fact, that they were found near the place where the soldier
was killed, a proof of their having been present. No judgment could
have been more unreasonable, for had they known of, or been at the
rescue, they would have, like the others, speedily got out of the way,
and certainly would never have thro\\Ti aside their arms. Such reason-
ings, however, were of no avail. They were sentenced to die on the
I jth — according to the compilers of the " Cloud ;" but according to
Wodrow, other papers make it more justly the 13th — to have their
right hands cut off, and then to be hanged, and their bodies to be
carried to Inchbelly Bridge, and there hung in chains.

" Their carriage," says Wodrow, " at their execution, was cheerful
and gallant. John M'\\Tiarrie was ordered to lay his hand on the
block ; he thinking they required him to lay his head down, did so
with much courage. Major Balfour said in a great rage, ' It is not
your head but your hand we are seeking.' John answered, he had
then heard wrong, but was most willing to lay down not only his
hand, but his neck, and all the members of his body, for the cause of
Christ. When his hand was cut off, he was not observed to shrink ;
but holding up the stump with great courage, said, 'This and other
blood now shed, will yet raise the burned Covenants.'

yohn Wharry.

283

" James Smith died in much peace and comfort, not in the least
discomposed.

" I have some of their letters to their friends, from the prison at
Glasgow, dated June nth and 12th, full of pious matter, and dis-
covering a very great measure of Divine joy they were under. They
appear to have been sensible, serious Christians."

Their testimonies amply justify Wodrow's opinion. They have
fervour and earnestness, and strength of faith, that show them to liave
been no ordinary men.

Fountainhall's notice of them is characteristic. Although made
from a government point of view, it justifies the statement that they
were condemned without evidence. " Five of the king's guards
being conveying one Smith, a fanatic, prisoner to Glasgow, seven
whigs fell on them at Inchbelly Bridge, rescued the prisoner, and
killed David Murray, and wounded another ; and two Lesmahagow
men, called M'Wharrie and Smith, were seized in Stevenson Wood,
on suspicion, and hanged at Glasgow, 13th June 1683."

How long their bodies hung in chains is not known ; but they
were ultimately buried at the spot where they were taken, and a
monument erected over them. The inscription is in the Appendix.
Some years ago, the farmer disliking people walking over the field to
visit the monument, moved it fifty yards to the south, close to the
road-side, where it now lies under an iron tailing. — Ed.J

-^ -m^m <

LETTER from John Wharry, who suffered at the
Market-cross of Glasgow, June nth, 1683. Written
during his imprisonment, to his mother and other rela-
tions.

" Dear Mother, Brother and Sisters, — I be-
seech you, in the name of my sweet, and altogether
lovely, incomprehensible, matchless, precious, beautiful
and glorious Redeemer, Captain and Conqueror over all his enemies,
be not discouraged ; for through His free love, cast on me in black
nature, who was born an heir of sin and wrath, I am now by His
blessed purchase made free by the laying down of His sweet life for
poor sinners, of which I was one of the chiefest in the world, that I

284 A ClotLd of Witnesses.

might get life eternal, which is His own gift bestowed on me. And
now, through His blessed hand of providence, He has made choice
of poor unworthy me, to be His prisoner, who ordereth all things
well to these whom He sets His love on ; and these whom He loves.
He loves to the end. I do not question His all-sufficiency. Dear
mother, do not ye question it, but that He is sufficient to make me
conqueror over my inward and outward enemies.

" Oh ! mother, bless the Lord, that ever He gave you a son, and
flesh and bones, to be honoured to be a sufferer for His precious
name, truths and interest, cause and Covenant, and concerns, accord-
ing to His own rule in His blessed word, which is contained in the
Old and New Testaments, agreeable to all truths contained therein.
Oh ! mother, will ye be entreated for His love's sake, to give me back
again to Him in a free-will offering ? Oh ! I am persuaded that it
would please my matchless Lord, and then it would fare better
with me and you both.

" Oh ! if ye knew what of the kisses of love and kindness I got,
since I was brought to carts, stocks, and irons. Oh ! unworthy I,
that should be honoured with this. Oh ! mother, I beseech you for
His love's sake, that ye do not repine, and thereby provoke the Lord
to anger. Oh ! bless Him, for making all things pleasant and delight-
some, refreshful and comfortable, to my soul and my brother's. I
cannot express what of love I have met with, since they apprehended
me and my brother. Oh ! bless Him, for dealing so with me. I
beseech you, mother, be serious with the Lord, that what He hath
begun. He may also perfect in us to His own glory, and lor His own
work, in the souls of all that are within the compass of the decree of
election of free grace. I cannot descnbe Him ; He is incomprehen-
sible, and He is without compare. Oh ! He is beautiful and glorious,
strong and almighty, powerful to break through difficulties, and to
bring through His own elect ; all which is necessary, and nothing
less, that His own, being cast in the furnace for the trial of their faith
and patience, may be helped to endure ; for He knows well enough
to purge away the dross and the scum of His own elect. Oh ! but
some souls He plunges over and over ; to others He limits and per-
mits their winnowing by Satan. Oh ! but true faith, believing, and
casting all the weight upon the promises, will bring you to the accom-
plishment, if ye endure with patience. He is the same always to poor
sinners, to make them to conquer over all their inward and outward
enemies, to these that have received Him in the precious offers of

John W harry. 28;

the Gospel, holden out to poor sinners freely, and to poor me ;
and He hath engaged my heart to fall in love with Him, and to follow
the blessed persecuted Gospel, through good report, and ill report,
upon all hazards whatsoever, through His strength.

" Oh ! bless Him, all that is within me, that ever He made me to
act faith on His great and precious promises, and also to trust the
faithful outmaking of them to His own in particular straits ; and also
to the Church in general, in His due season, against all oppositions
that can come from a tempting devil, and wicked, conspiring, and des-
perate heart, and the wicked, flattering, deceiving and bewitching
world. Oh ! but these be three strong, arch, cunning, and subtile
enemies. I fear, if this question were asked at professors in the
land, if they knew these? they would answer, they knew them
very well ; though I fear the contrary ; and it appears much in our
day and generation. Woe is us ! where is this married land gone to,
judge ye ?

" I bless Him that He has made me His prisoner, though I be
unworthy; He has stooped low, and with His delicates has come to
me in my irons and cords, in that chamber in Glasgow, with His
own wine, apples, and flagons. Oh ! if ye knew what a life we have
here ! if ye knew the want of Him, ye would have longed for Him,
and would not have thought a prison, cords, stocks, irons, hard to
bear for His comely presence, and refreshing of our souls. Oh !
glory to His blessed and everlasting name, whose loving kindness
lasts for aye. Oh ! friends, give all the praise to precio'is and lovely
Christ. Oh ! friends, wrestle and hold on, use importunity with
Him, for your bleeding mother-church, for it is not time to be slack.
Oh ! pray for us, that we may get more and more of His support,
that we may be strong in our almighty God, who has done great
things for His Church, and is beginning to do great things for us in
our prison.

" Oh ! praise Him, all ye people ; but it may be nearer to the
breaking of the day of our King Royal, than ye are aware. God has
long been silent, and conscience [has been] dumb amongst people.
Oh ! be ye aware that ye have not these two, when He arises to make
war for all the wrongs He has sustained. We beseech you in His
own name, try whose ye are, what ye are, and in whose list ye are.
Know ye not, that true faith is the substance of things not seen,
but hoped for, in Him, and will be made forthcoming to the sensible
feeling of His own elect. " JOHN WHARRY."

James Smith.

LETTER written by James Smith, who suffered for the
truth at the Market-cross of Glasgow, June ii, 1683,
to his Father and Mother.

" Dear Father and Mother, — I beseech you to
forgive me all the offences I have done to you, for ye
know it is natural to children to offend and grieve their
parents. Now, this I seek in His name, and for His
sake, and I heartily forgive any provocations that my father has given
me, as I am of myself, and desire the Lord may take a dealing with
youT heart, oh my father ! Now, my dear father, seek the Lord that
your soul may live ; and make religion your main work, and let it not be
a bye-business to you, but strive and wrestle to get time spent rightly
in the fear of the Lord, minding always, and at all times, that the eye
of a holy and just God is upon you ; and be serious with God, and
deal in earnest with Him, that He would help you to self-denial, to
be denied to all things beneath the clouds; and study to win [i.e., get]
at mortification ; and let your affections follow nothing further than
ye can be mortified to it ; and be submissive to His holy will. Now,
the Lord Himself persuade you to fall in love with lovely Christ. And
I desire the Lord may give you unfeigned repentance and faith in
Jesus Christ, and strength to stand out and resist these ensnaring
courses; viz., locality paying, and the compearing at courts, and
hearing of curates, and the like.

" Dear father, mother, brethren, and sisters, quit with me, and
give me up to the Lord, who gave me to you. Give me up freely
without hankering and repining, for He loveth a cheerful giver. I
dare not say but He has been kind to me. Oh ! matchless love !
Oh praise, praise Him, that ever He honoured the like of me with
cords on my arms and stocks on my legs ; irons have been sweet and

James Smith. 287

easy to me, and no trouble. Now, hold up my case to the Lord, and
doubt not of His faithfulness and all-sufficiency, for He is both able
and willing, and He has said, ' In all your afflictions I am afflicted ;'
and He carries His and their cross both, and He sends none a war-
fare on their own charges. ' Verily, vtrily, 1 say unto you, except a
corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone : but if it
die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it ;
and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal '
(John xii. 24, 25). And I can say, from good grounds, I am well
helped of my lovely Master in all that I have been trysted \t.e., visited]
with. I desire with all my heart and soul to bless and praise the
holy name of my God for His love, and that ever He looked on the
like of me, a poor sinful thing. Oh ! praise Him, and rejoice witli
me, that it is so well with me. Now the manner of my taking was
not surj^rising to me ; I was not feared [z>., afraidj, for I dare not
question, but it was both the place, and also the time was come ;
glory to His name in so ordering of it.

" No more at present, but have my love remembered to you, and
I desire you all to take up yourselves with your duty. Now I quit you
all to Him who is able to save to the utmost. Be much taken up in the
Church's condition, and be not at ease in the time of Zion's trouble.
My brethren, my advice to you is, to join yourselves in a society or
fellowship meeting in the strength of the Lord. Now, my lovely
Lord, give Thy blessing to all Thine, and pardon the sins of all the
elect. " Sic subscribitur,

"JAMES SMITH."

HESE two zealous martyrs were precluded from having any
formal testimony by the rage and cruelty of the persecutors,
who, having suborned witnesses against them to depone that
they saw them kill a soldier at Inchbelly Bridge in relieving a prisoner
there, did presently take them forth to the Cross of Glasgow, and
with the greatest of inhuman rage, hanging them on a gibbet till they
were half dead, caused cut them down, and laying them in that con-
dition upon a cart, carried them to the said Inchbelly Bridge, to be
there hung up in chains. And it is worth the recording to the praise
of His grace for whose royal dignities they witnessed, that they en
dured all these hardships inflicted upon them with a great deal of
Christian magnanimity and alacrity, even to the conviction of

John Nisbet, the Younger.

OHN NISBET, called the younger, to distinguish him from
John Nisbet of Hardhill, belonged to the parish of Loudon.
On March 22, 1683, the Council granted a Justiciary power
to Major White, stationed at Kilmarnock, upon his apprehending
John Nisbet, to prosecute him criminally on the spot, on the charge
of being at the battle of Bothwell Bridge. He was accordingly tried
at Kilmarnock. The only account extant of his trial is contained
in his own statement of the interrogations proposed to him. He
was sentenced to be hanged at Kilmarnock, on April 4, according
to Wodrow ; but according to the compilers of the " Cloud," April 14,
1683.

His testimony is not given in the original edition of the " Cloud."
At the close of the Interrogations, the compilers state : " This martyr's
testimony, though otherwise very sensible and solid, is omitted, in
regard that not only the matter, but even the very words of it are
generally the same with the testimony of James Robertson." It
occurs, however, in the fourth edition, 1741, from which we have
taken it.

Wodrow gives an account of his last moments. He says, " I have
before me a large account of his carriage at his execution that day,
and his last words on the ladder, taken from his mouth in short hand.
He had a grave courage and staidness when he came to the place of
execution. After he had prayed, he sang the i6th Psalm, from the 5th
verse to the close, with a great deal of affection and joy ; and then
read the 8th chapter to the Romans, and prayed again.

" When he had delivered his Bible to his uncle, he made himself
ready for the executioner, not expecting to get leave to say anything
to the spectators ; but essaying to speak, he continued a good while
without interruption, in an extemporary discourse, pressing them to
godliness, and recommending religion to them from his own feeling
and experience. He notices, that this is the first execution of this

John Nisbet, Ike Younger. 289

kind at that place, and is of opinion, it is not like to be the last. He
tells them death is before them all, and if it were staring them in the
face as nearly as it was him at present, he doubts not there would be
many awakened consciences among them ; but as for himself, though
death be naturally terrible, and a violent death yet more terrible, the
sting of it is taken away, and he can say, he reckons every step of the
ladder a step nearer heaven.

" When going on to give some account of the cause of his suffer-
ings, and his indictment, a confusion was raised by the soldiers, and
he broke off, and drew the napkin over his face, and was turned off
when commending his soul into His Father's hands."

The spot where the gallows stood, on which he was hanged, is still
marlTed by J. N., formed with small white stones, at the south comer
of the cross of Kilmarnock. His remains lie in the Low Church
burying-ground. Over them is a stone to his memory. The inscrip-
tion is in the Appendix.

Anthony Shaw, referred to by John Nisbet in his Testimony, was
minister of Belfast in 1646. He came to Colmonell in 1650, and along
with so many other ministers was deprived of his charge in 1662. In
1683 he was in prison, but how long he had been, is not recorded.
He was liberated, August 9, on finding caution to appear when called.
He seems to have been the indulged minister at Newmilns, where it
is likely John Nisbet met him. He was soon again in trouble. While
assisting at a communion with the indulged minister of his old parish
of Colmonell, he was led, owing to the great crowd in attendance, to
preach in the open air instead of the inside of the church. For this
so-called grave offence, he was summoned before the Council, Janu-
ary 10, 1684, and ordained to find caution not to preach, or remove
from the kingdom. He refused to find caution, and was ordered
again to prison. On January 22, the Council liberated him, "being
old and infirm," on the condition that he keep no conventicle, under
the penalty of 5000 raerks. — Ed.]

290 A Cloud of Witnesses.

.^-^.

HE INTERROGATIONS p/oposed to John Nisbet,
younger, who lived in the parish of Loudon, and suf-
fered at Kilmarnock [April 14, 1863]. Sent by him in
a letter to some friends.

" Dear Friends, — The manner of my examination

{as I remember) was this :

T Q. " When saw ye John Nisbet ? [i.e., of Hardhill.j

A. " I (lid not see him this good while.

Q " But when did you see him, and where did you see him ?
A. " Although I could, I would not answer, to discover my
neighbours.

" The Major said he would make me to tell, or he would gar me
\i.c., make me] sit three hours in hell. I answered. That was not in
his power.

Q. " Are ye under an oath, that ye will not tell of the rest of

)'OU ?

A. " I am under no oath but what the Covenant binds us to.

Q. " Took ye ever the communion ?

A. "No.

Q. " Did you ever preach or expone [/>., explain] the Scriptures?

A. " I could never read the first of the Rudiments [/.^., of Latin].

" Yet (said they) there were men who did preach that were not
learned.

" I told them, I knew none, but the Quakers, whose principles I
disown.

" Then they said, ' Say, God sav^e the king?'

" I answered, It was not in my power to save or condemn him.

Q. " Would you not say, God save your beast if it were fallen
into a hole ?

A. " No: because it is taking of His name in vain.

Q " Were you at Bothwell at the rebellion ?

A. "■ Seeing you count it rebellion, it is criminal ; A\ntness of it.

Q. " Is the Bishop's death murder ?

A. " I am not a judge to cognosce [i.e., pronounce] upon it.
And being asked again my opinion of it ; I answered, I had said all
that I could say of it already.

John Nisbet, the Younger. 291

Q. " Was Bothwell rebellion ?

A. " It was self-defence, which was lawful.

Q. " How prove ye that ?

A. " By that Confession which ye build your Test upon.

" Then they said jeeringly, I was a grammarian.

Q. " Own ye a law ?

A. " Yes.

Q. " Own ye the law as it is now established ?

A. " Since ye make your questions matters of life and death, ye
ought to give time to consider upon them.

Q. " Own ye the king in all matters civil and ecclesiastic, and to
be the head of the Church ?

A. " I will acknowledge none to be head of the Church but Christ.

Q. "Who is lawgiver?

A. "Christ.

Q. " Is the king the king or not?

A " He was once a covenanted king.

Q. " Is he the king now ?

A. " I refer it to his obligations in his coronation-oath, to be
considered.

Q. " Is he your king or not ?

" I told them I would not answer any more such questions at
this time. This is all that passed for the most part, except a num-
ber of senseless questions.

" No more at present, but have my love remembered to all
friends in Christ. I am very well borne through, blessed be the
Lord for it. " Sic subscribitw^

" JOHN NISBET."

HE LAST TESTIMONY of John Nisbet [the Younger].

" Dear Friends, and true lovers of Zion's righteous
cause, — If I could speak or write anything to the com-
mendation of the covenanted God of the Church and
kingdom of Scotland, surely I have many things to do
it for.

•' I. That He hath trysted {i.e., appointed] my lot to
be in a nation wiiere He hath set up His pure worship, discipline,

292 A Cloud 0/ Witnesses.

and government, whereas He might justly have ordered it to ha\'e
been among those that are worshipping Antichrist, that whore of
Rome, that monstrous beast that sitteth upon many waters, whose
sentence may be read — ' And the third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without
mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in
the presence of the Lamb : and the smoke of their torment ascendeth
up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day nor night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark
of his name ' (Rev. xiv. 9-12).

" 2. He might have ordered it [my lot] to have been among the
corrupt Protestant Churches abroad, Lutherans, and other corrup-
tions, and abounding errors ; but [He has ordered it] in the Reformed
Church of Scotland, which was fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners ; the day was, when we could
have sung that song, ' We have a strong city ; salvation will God ap-
point for walls and bulwarks' (Isa. xxvi. i).

"3. I bless the holy name of my God that I am not this day
carrying arms against Him, His work and interest ; for there is no
more in me as of myself, than in these that are deeply imbruing their
hands in the blood of the saints.

*' 4. I bless and magnify His holy name that ever He brought me
out of the estate of nature, and brought me into an estate of grace
and salvation, through the virtue of the blood of Christ ; and exalted
be His holy name, that He hath given me a sight of my own weak-
ness, and also a sight of the deceitfulness of my own evil heart, and
the mystery of iniquity abounding there, and also a sight of the remedy
of the blood of Christ, with His Spirit engaging me to Himself, and
letting me see Himself altogether lovely and precious, so that I may
safely say, that there is none in heaven or in earth, that I desire
besides Him (Ps. Ixxiii. 25).

" 5. I bless and magnify the holy name of my God who hath
given me a sight of His controverted truths, now, when it is come
in question, whether Christ be head of His own house or not, whereas
there is no truth clearer in all the Scripture ; yet it must not be spoken
of, if ye resolve not to suffer for it.

" 6, I bless His name that ever He counted me worthy to suffer

John Nisbet, the Yotmger. 293

for Him, counting it not my shame, but an high privilege, and digni-
fying of me, when many famous in their generation have been denied
of it, and are endeavouring by their practice to render the cross of
Christ of none eftect.

" 7. I bless and magnify His holy name that He hath kept me
from denying of His name, in His titles and attributes j for that is the
thing which the enemy and usurpers of my lovely Lord's crown are
seeking, to have me to deny allegiance to Him, who is given of the
Father, to be a leader and commander of His people. ' Thus saith
the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried
stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation : he that believeth
shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet : and the hail shall sweep away the
refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place' (Isa.
xxviii. 16, 17). But this may be our complaint, 'The tongue of the
suckling child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst : the young
children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them' (Lam. iv. 4).
And in the third verse of the same chapter, ' The daughter of my
people is become cruel as the ostriches in the wilderness.' ' But ye
are departed out of the way ; ye have caused many to stumble at the
law j ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the
people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial
in the law ' {Mai. ii. 8, 9). For now it is not with the land, as it is
in Ezek. xxiv. 7,9,' For her blood is in the midst of her ; she set it
upon the top of a rock ; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover
it with dust ; that it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance ;
I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be
covered. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God ; Woe to the bloody
city ! I will even make the pile for fire great.' For the iniquities ot
a land, many are the judgments thereof; therefore we had need to
mourn, for we will all be found guilty of the sins of the land in less
or more. It makes me to tremble to think of Scotland's unfaithful-
ness in all ranks, for as it is with the people, so with the priest, foi
all have wandered out of the way, and followed their idols, especially
the sins of the corrupt rulers. ' For the statutes of Omri are kept,
and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels ;
that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an
hissing : therefore, ye shall bear the reproach of my people ' (Micah
vi. 16). 'The Lord hath accomplished His fury; He hath poured

294 ^ Cloud of Witnesses,

out His fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath
devoured the foundations thereof. They have polluted themselves
with blood, so that men could not touch their garments' (Lam. iv.
II, 14). Now His glory is trampled under foot; but He hath said,
' I am the Lord : that is my name : and My glory will I not give to
another, neither My praise to graven images' (Isa. xlii. 8).

" Now, is it not His declarative glory which that usurper hath
taken to himself? Yea, but He that leadeth captivity captive, and
giveth gifts unto men, will reclaim His own glory, for the government
is laid upon His shoulder (Isa. ix. 6). ' And hath put all things
under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the
Church' (Eph. i. 22). Now, I being a free-born member of the
Chuich and kingdom of Scotland, and joining with all the funda-
mental laws thereof; and they refuse to judge and sentence me. ac-
cording to that law ; that must, without doubt, be murdei ; and
further, they refuse to judge according to the Scriptures, which is
an higher wickedness.

" Oh ! what will come upon Scotland for the high abominations
committed therein? Surely it cannot but meet with odious judg-
ments. ' For my sword shall be bathed in heaven : behold, it shall
come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to
judgment ' (Isa. xxxiv. 5). For I see nothing appearing in this land
but defection from the way of truth ; for there is no public power
now in the land but wliat is founded upon perjury, sacrilege, and
tyranny. ' Behold, the princes of Israel, every one weie in thee to
their power to shed blood ' (Ezek. xxii. 6). And compare Scotland's
sins with Israel's sins, in that of Ezekiel, and see if they be not
parallel. And seeing they are so, what can be expected, but that
their punishments and plagues shall be parallel also ? For there are
few mourning for all the abominations done in the land.

" Now, these that are charging me with self-murder, which is a
breach of the sixth commandment, are very false ; for self-preserva-
tion must stoop to truth's preservation. And further, I have that
much of humanity, that I love my life, but cannot redeem it with the
loss of my integrity : but I prove such as do these things which the)-
would have me to do, are actually guilty of the breach of the second
commandment, which is, ' Thou shalt not make unto thyself any
graven image ; ' for I cannot say, but it is a worshipping of images
to yield to them in these things, now when they have seated them-
selves in Christ's room. Therefore I exhort you all, to beware of

John Nisbet, the Younger. 295

joining with them in their sins, lest ye partake with them in their
plagues, now when they have made it manifest, that they will have
no king but Charles Stuart. Wherefore I think it is our duty to
cleave to Christ ; we must either quit Christ or Charles.

" Indeed, there are some folk who pretend to keep both ; but I
defy any, if they be called to a public testimony, but they must either
quit Christ or Charles ; for they will not have the civil law, without
the ecclesiastic ; so I cannot see how they can be owned in either.
For by their Acts of Parliament, they have made them alike inherent
to the crown : and shall that authority be so owned by me, being
a free born member of the Church of Scotland, which is Christ's
mystical body, without being guilty of high rebellion against God.
And further, he having broken all obligations, which was the tenor
by which he entered into the government, and without which he
could not have entered into the government ; the Covenant being
the coronation oath, which he hath not only broken, but made it
death to all that speak of them. And further, having seated himself
in the Mediator's chair of state, which is enough to denude him of
authority, even in civil matters. If it shall be said, the land has
given him that Supremacy, and so cannot take it from him again ; to
this I answer, every individual person in the land hath not given
him that, and therefore is free to reject him upon that head, when
they are called to it.

" But, oh ! the sins of Scotland are great in departing away from
God , for Scotland hath slidden back like a backsliding heifer, for
they declare their sin like Sodom, they hide it not ; the show of their
countenance doth witness against them. But, however, it will be
well with those that keep their garments clean ; for ye will find
enough ado when it cometh, although ye should live Christians
twenty years ; therefore, slight not time, when ye have it : for if
death come upon you, it will not be easy , but well is that soul
that can say upon good grounds, that Christ is all in all to them ;
but the worldly-mindedness and slavish fear of this generation make
their practice declare to the world, that Christ is not worthy the
suffering for, otherwise they durst not adventure to forsake Him,
who is altogether lovely ; for He will bid none go His errands upon
their own charges.

" Now, as to the articles of my indictment, upon which my sen-
tence of death is passed, they are chiefly these :

" 1. My owning it as lawful, my rising in arms at Bothwell Bridge ;

296 A Cloud of Witiiesses.

which I did with great cheerfulness and boldness, it being self-defence,
and in the defence of the Gospel. For my own part, the only end
I had before me there was, the glory of God, if I was not deceived ;
therefore I could not think it rebellion, or unlawful against God,
although the laws of men be against it, who have set themselves in
opposition to all the commands of God.

" 2. My disowning the curates to be faithful ministers, which I
did very boldly ; and they said if I disowned the curates, I disowned
all authority, which may testify that they have set themselves in
Christ's stead.

"3. My owning Mr Donald Cargill, Mr John King, Mr John
Kid, and Mr Richard Cameron, to be faithful ministers of Jesus
Christ, which I did ; and I bless the Lord that ever I heard them,
and I set to my seal to the faithfulness of these men's doctrine.

" 4. My not praying for the king, in his person and authority ;
which I durst not do, it being a perfect owning of him in all that he
hath done. Some may object and say, that I am against the Scrip-
tures in this, because, in several places in the Old Testament, we find
that the kings of Israel were anointed to that office by the Lord, and
obedience to them thereupon enjoined. But this was only done to
lawful kings, and so could not be to ours, he having set up himself in
the room of God incarnate. And we may justly say, as the children of
Israel said, in i Sam. xii. 19, 'For we have added unto all our sins
this evil, to ask us a king,' because we follow him in things contrary to
the command of God. And should I pray for that man, to preserve
hinr in his person and government, who hath thus ventured upon the
thick bosses of the buckler of God Almighty? If one should object
and say, these are small things ; to this I answer, no truth is small ;
' He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much, and
he which is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much ' (Luke xvi. 10).

" Now, I shall give an account of my principles, and I shall do it
as in the sight of God. I am a true Christian, truly anti-Popish,
anti-prelatic, anti-schismatic, anti-sectarian, anti-Erastian, a true
Presbyterian ; and whatever many have said of me, or may say, thus
I have lived, and so now I die.

" I. I close with Christ in that way of redemption which He hath
purchased, for the redemption of sinners. 'This is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners ; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I
obtained mercy '(i Tim. i. 15, 16).

John Nisbet, the Younger. 297

" 2. I give my testimony to the followers of the holy Scriptures,
for they are the rule that men are to walk by, and they declare the
revealed will of God to man, anent man's salvation.

" 3. I give my testimony to the work of Reformation in the Church
of Scotland ; and I bless the Lord that I was born a member of that
Church ; and I leave my testimony against the errors of that Church,
but chiefly against Popery, and Prelacy, and Quakerism, and Inde-
pendency, and finally, from under all the errors of Ihe Church.

" 4. I give my testimony to the Confession of Faith, Larger and
Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Wor-
ship ; the order of the Church of Scotland.

"5. I give my testimony to the Divine worship, discipline and
government of the Church of Scotland, both by Kirk-sessions, Presby-
teries, Synods, and General Assemblies.

" 6. I give my testimony to the Covenants, National, and Solemn
League and Covenant.

" 7. I give my testimony to the faithful actings of the Protesters,
called Remonstrances, against malignants and malignant interests,
which is the very thing this poor Church is contending for this day.

" 8. I give my testimony to all the faithful testimonies of the
people of God, that have been givenfor that noble work, whether on
scaffolds, or in fields, or on the seas.

" 9. I give my testimony to the faithful actings of the last martyr,
although this generation is calHng sin a duty, and duty a sin, because
of hazard ; for if this generation get leave to go on in their pernicious
ways, they will not believe that there is a God in heaven, to punish
such sinners, and sins as are committed in the land. ' Ye are cursed
with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation ' (Mai.
iii. 9).

" Now :

" I. I witness my testimony against the Public Resolutioners
for bringing in the malignant party to places of power and trust, for
which this poor land is smarting, and bearing the weight of their
hands to this day.

" 2. I leave my testimony against that Act of Supremacy, and the
Act Rescissory, by which two they have overturned the whole work of
Reformation, both in Kirk and State.

" 3. I leave my testimony against the unfaithfulness of ministers,
both indulged and others, who are sheltering themselves under the
wings of those who have declared themselves enemies to all godliness;

298 A Cloud of Wittiesses.

and I wonder how they can say they are evendown \i.e.^ sincere] for
(lod ; yet never one of them is troubled, be troubled who will ; for,
before my face, one of these ministers said (to wit, Mr Anthony
Shaw l)y name), he prayed, God save him from the man that would
not pray for the king in his person and government ; to whom I
said, magistrates ought to punish evil doers. ' Indeed, so he doth,'
said he.

" 4. I leave my testimony against all the wrongers of my lovely
Lord's crown, all in general.

" 5. I leave my testimony against the hearers of these perjured
curates throughout the land ; but especially in that corner of the
land, to wit, Kilmarnock ] for their going to kirks, subscribing of
bonds, paying of fines ; which includeth in it the acknowledgment of
a fauh, which I deny we have done, but they have done it to us, and
that never a watcnman to testify against it.

"6. I leave my testimony against the Cess, or any other thing
that may strengthen the hands of evil doers. ' For ye are they that
prepare a table to that troop, and furnish a drink-offering to that
number' {Isa. Ixv. 11).

" Now, I will speak a word to tliree sorts of folk ;

" I. To you that are strangers, enemies to my lovely Lord; let
your estrangedness be done away ; fly to Him, ere He break out in
fury against you. Oh ! consider how near you are to the destroyer, if
ye fly not unto Him, and if you fly in unto Him He will abundantly
pardon ; therefore, I entreat you, that ye would turn from your evil
ways, and leave off your persecution, and fly to Him, for there is
mercy with Him, that He may be feared ; and if ye will not turn,
wrath will be upon you to all eternity.

" A second sort are these that formerly have known God, and
now are fallen from their first love. Oh ! consider your former ways,
and turn again to your first husband, lest there be no space to repent ,
for all the ways that ye have taken to win by trouble [/>., escape]
will not hide you from Him, who is the great sin-revenging God, and
He will bring all your sins and all your compliance to stand and
witness against you ; therefore delay not repentance, for ye will find
death [to] have enough ado with itself

" K third sort are these who desire to walk in His way, and to
keep themselves from the crying wickedness of these times. Oh !
stand fast in the faith, for there is no other burden laid upon you, but to
hold fast till He come. Oh ! for that day, when ye shall be made one

John Nisbet, the Younger. 299

stick in His hand ; and have fervent charity among yourselves, and
let him that standeth take heed lest he fall, for ye will find enough
ado with it when death comes. Therefore, let the main thing be
your study, and get once that made sure, that cannot be taken from
you, for ye have many enemies to fight with if ye win [z>., get]
through, for the way to heaven is very straight. For it is no wonder
Satan seeks to tempt poor Christians, when he assayed to tempt our
blessed Lord and Master. Let none of you think it strange concern-
ing what hath befallen me ; for it is in His holy wisdom ; He hath
carved out my lot such, and I have been made to bless Him for
my lot. Oh ! study to wrestle against your own corruptions, which
are very heavy to me sometimes, but His love hath been great in
bringing me out of the estate of nature, and hath brought me to
see my own weakness, and also hath given me a sight of the re-
medy, for which my soul shall be made to praise Him throughout
all eternity.

" Now, my dear friends in Christ, study to walk blameless in all
manner of conversation, as becometh the Gospel. Let your light so
shine before the world, that they may be ashamed that shall accuse
your good conversation in Christ ; for now ye need not think, if ye
keep the way of God, but ye will have many enemies, both within and
without ; therefore seek strength from Him who is able to give it. Ye
need not think that all the stock of grace that a man hath will be
sufficient when the trial comes, if there be not fresh supply given
in the time of need. Oh ! wrestle with Him, that ye may be hid in
the day of His wrath, that seems to be poured out on this generation,
for their great treachery and departure from God, the breach of His
laws, and subjecting to the laws of men ; but my eyes shall be closed,
that I shall not see it ; and I am well content ; seeing I get my soul
for a prey, then I shall have no loss.

" Now, as for His way with His church, it is mysterious to me.
But this, I think, is a token for good, that He is taking some to
witness for His despised and trampled upon truths, and He will keep
some witnessing still, until He return again ; but, indeed, I think it
seems it is but very few that will see Him return again in this genera-
tion. Now, death is called tne king of terrors, but I think it is not
so with me. 'O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory?' (t Cor. xv. 55). 'For we know that if our earthly house
of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ' (2 Cor. v.

300 A Cloud of Witnesses.

i). For which we long earnestly to be absent from the body, to
be present with the Lord, which is far better.

" Now, I declare I am free of the blood of all men ; and although
men have no public scandal to charge me with, yet by original and
actual transgressions I am the chief of sinners ; but His love hath
been great ; the manifestations of His presence have been great also,
for Satan hath not been wanting to assault ; but yet glory to His
name who hath resisted him, and hath not permitted him to get his
will.

" Now, as my last words, I recommend it to all, to be tender one
of another, without sinning, and be in earnest mth God, for ye will find
death will have enough ado with itself, therefore delay not repentance
lest He come when ye are not aware. Now as for these men that are
unjustly taking away my life, only for adhering to the truth, and for
no other end ; now, for what they do to me, as I am of myself, I freely
forgive them and all others, and especially these blinded soldiers, that
do what they do ignorantly some of them ; but as they do it to the
image of God in me, that is not mine to forgive, but I leave it to Him
to whom vengeance doth belong, that He may do with them what
may most glorify Himself.

" Now my work is finished. I have fought the good fight, I have
finished my course ; henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righte-
ousness. But let such as will condemn me read that Scripture : ' Who
shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect ? it is God that jusdfieth,
who is He that condemneth ? ' (Rom. viii. 7^1, 34). For my lot is fallen
to me in pleasant places, I have a goodly heritage ; for I would not
change my lot with the greatest man upon earth. Men and angels,
praise Him for this ; all the Creation, praise Him. Oh ! my soul
shall praise Him, through all the ages of eternity.

" Now, farewell all true friends in Christ ; farewell Christian
relations ; farewell sweet and holy Scriptures ; farewell prayer and
meditation ; farewell sinning and suffering. Welcome heaven ; wel-
come innumerable company of angels, and the Church of the first-
born, and the spirits of just men made perfect ; welcome Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost ; welcome praises for evermore. Now, dear Father,
receive my spirit, for it is Thine. Even so come. Lord Jesus.
" Sic subscribitur,

"JOHN NISBET."

John Wilson.

OHN WILSON was a captain at the battle of Bothwell
Bridge. His name is given in the " Proclamation against
Rebels, June 26, 1679," ^s "John Wilson, son to Alexander
Wilson, town-clerk of Lanark." Li a proclamation, October 8, 1681,
his name occurs along with eighty-eight others, as forfeited in life,
lands, and goods, for being concerned in the rising at Bothwell.
His sentence refers to a previous condemnation in March that same
year :

"John Wilson, writer in Lanark, having been formerly condemned
to die, and to be demeaned as a traitor when apprehended, and
acknowledging himself that same person who was formerly con-
demned March i, 1681, for rebeUion, the Lords adjudge him to be
hanged at the Grassmarket, May 9, betwixt two and four in the
afternoon."

It is not recorded when he was apprehended, but on April 17th
he was twice before the Council, once before a committee of their
number in Holyrood Abbey, and again before a full meeting. He
himself has given the substance of his answers.

In his last speech he gives a single glimpse of his early history.
Three books still prized in Scotland were the means of awakening
him to a sense of sin, and leading him to give himself to God. The
three books were : " The Fulfilling of the Scriptures," by the elder
Robert Fleming, the father of the writer of the " Rise and Fall of
Papacy," a work that twice over in its history — in 1793 and 1848 —
has attained a fame such as its author could scarcely have dreamed
of ; the youthful Andrew Gray's four discourses, entitled, " Directions
and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer," discourses that by their seri-
ousness, and by their directness of appeal, were well-fitted to carry
on the work begun by the " Fulfilling of Scripture ; " and the vade
mccum of John Owen, William Guthrie's " Trial of a Saving Interest
in Christ."

302 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Wilson's trial took place May 4th. On the 7th he was induced
by his relations to supplicate for a reprieve, and it was granted till
the 1 6th. Wodrow gives the conference he had with Sir William
Paterson. Wilson's answers are able and catholic in their spirit, but
neither changed in their opinions, and the sentence was carried into
effect. No account has been preserved of his last moments. There
was executed along with him David Macmillan, a man of a kindred
spirit. Macmillan had been at Bothwell. Wodrow gives the sub-
stance of his testimony. He blesses God, that made him see the
odiousness of his sin, his nakedness, and gave him white raiment
from Himself, and made him close with Himself on His own terms.
He closes by saying, " My soul shall bless Him through all the ages
of eternity. — Amen."

The sentences in Wilson's testimony are occasionally somewhat
involved, and are like those of a man not much accustomed to express
his thoughts in writing, yet no one of the sufferers quotes or refers to
so many books as he does. Besides Fleming, Guthrie, and Gray,
already noticed, he refers to Honeyman, Gouldman, Calderwood,
Knox, and Philpots. Calderwood's and Knox's Histories are well
known. Andrew Honeyman was minister of Ferryport-on-Craig in
1642, and was successively transported to the second, and then to
the first charge of St Andrews. In 1664 he was made Bishop of
Orkney. When (July 11, 1668), Archbishop Sharp was fired at, as
he sat in his carriage at the head of Blackfriars' Wynd, Edinburgh, by
James Mitchell, the shot missed him but struck Honeyman, as he was
on the step, in the wrist, and so shattered the bone that ultimately it
was the cause of his death. In his early years he was strongly Pres-
byterian, but shortly after the Restoration he adopted the principles
of the Court. He died February 21, 1676. He was a man of some
learning, although in his answer to " Naphtali," published in two
parts in 1668 and i66g, he really weakened the cause he sought to
defend. The fallacy of his reasoning was effectually shown by one
of the authors of " Naphtali," Sir James Stewart, in his Jus Populi
Vivdicatum.

Gouldman's Dictionary has long been supplanted by other works,
but it was of some repute in the seventeenth century. Its title is
" Latin and English Dictionary," by Francis Gouldman, London.

Philpots is the English martyr. John Philpots, Archdeacon of Win-
chester. He .suffered at Smithfield, December 18, 1555. The pas-
sage quoted is from " Coverdale's Letters of the Martyrs." It is

yohn Wilson. 303

quoted from memory, and gives the sense rather than the exact words.
It will be found at length in the " Parker Society's Edition of Philpots'
Letters," page 221.

James Laurie, mentioned in Wilson's answers, was a writer in
Lanark. He was at Bothwell, and was sentenced to be hanged,
April 4, 1683. The Council registers record the granting a reprieve
to November, and in April 1684 a recommendation for a remission
of his sentence, which seems to have been granted.

The Test repeatedly alluded to by John Wilson and several of
the other sufferers was a strangely contradictory oath enacted by
Parliament, August 31, 1681, to be taken by all persons in places
of public trust. As the Westminster Confession had been dis-
owned in the Act Rescissory, it went back to the confession of
Knox's time, 1567. It took the swearer bound to own the true
Protestant religion professed in this early confession, in whose
eleventh article Christ is said to be " the only Head of His Kirk,"
and " if man or angel presume to intrude " into this office, they are
declared to be blasphemous to our sovereign and supreme governor
Christ Jesus ; and at the same time required him to acknowledge
Charles II. to be supreme in all causes, ecclesiastical as well as civil.
—Ed.]

HE TESTIMONY of John Wilson, Writer in Lanark,
who suffered at the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, May
16, 1683.

His Answers before seven or eight of the Council,
April 17.

The Chancellor said : " We having called James
Laurie, produced to him a letter writ by you to him, wherein you re
prove him for calling Bothwell rebellion. He owned that it had
convinced his conscience, and said that he was sorry for what he
spoke, and we produced to him a letter supposed to be writ
in answer to yours, which he denied. Tell us v/ho writ that
letter ? "

John Wilson answered, " I will not tell by whom, only it was
not writ by James Laurie."

304 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Q. " Who is the lady mentioned in the end of the letter ?"

A. " r dare not burden my conscience to tell."

Q. " Do you own authority ?"

A. " What authority ? "

<2 " What think you of Bothwell ? Was it not unlawful to rise
in arms ? "

A. " I dare not say that it is unlawful, for the Confession con-
tained in your Test says, article 15, 'That it is a good work to
defend the life of the harmless ;' and however God hath disposed of
those people, yet I suppose the Lord will own these, that, hearing
their neighbours had been worshipping God (for defending them-
selves against those that sought their life) [and] were in jeopardy of
their lives, thought it their duty to rise for their relief"

Q. " Was Pentland rebellion ? "

A. " The oppression of these poor people was such that the
then rulers condemned Sir James Turner for his cruelty."

Upon this, one answered, that he knew Sir James went not the
length of his commission.

Q. " Was the Bishop's death murder ? "

A. " Have me excused, gentlemen ; I will not answer to that."
Being urged further, he said, " It being nothing concerning my sal-
vation, I do not pry into it."

Upon this, they said, " Did Bothwell concern your salvation ?"

To which he replied, " There are none that engage themselves
in service to God, but it behoves them to be at His call ; and it
being for saving the life of the harmless, I durst not sit [i.e., disobey]
God's bidding."

Q. " Are you a minister ? "

A. "No."

They here alleged that some of his letters imported so much, and,
being desired to read the place, they read somewhat about a call to
some ministry, nothing relating thereto.

Q. " Will ye not condemn the Bishop's death as murder ? "

A. "I dare not, for fear, God having justified som*" of these
actors, they should rise in judgment and condemn me."

Q. " Is there no other way but to rise in arms against the king ? "

A. " I suppose you have read Bishop Honeyman's answer to
' Naphtali,' wherein he says, ' A king may be resisted, in case he
should alienate the kingdom to strangers.' And that bemg granted,
religion being taken away, was as dear to us as any outward interest."

John IVi/son. 305

One replied, '' The Bishop got little thanks for that."

Q. " Think you it lawful to rise against a State that is not of

your opinion ? Will you go to Bothwell again ? "

These questions they gave him not leave to answer, but ordered

him to be taken away, asking, " If he was a captain at Bothwell ? ''

which he assented to.

IS ANSWERS before the Council, April 17.

[These answers have been compared with Wodrow,
and one or two clauses added from his version. — Ed.]

Omitting what he answered at his former appear-
ance, which needs not be repeated (these questions
being always the same), they asked, " Is Bothwell re-
bellion or not ? "

A. " No ; it being for the defence of the harmless, who [were set
upon for their lives] for hearing a preaching and defending them-
selves ; and the Confession of Faith [The Scots Confession of 1560,
chap, xiv., 'What works are reputed good before God.' — Ed.] con-
tained in your Test says, ' It is good work to defend the life of the
harmless.' "

Q. " Then you approve of the Test ? Will you take it ? "

A. "I am not speaking of the Test, but of the Confession of
Faith therein contained."

Q. " Think you it lawful to rise against magistracy ? "

A. " Will you condemn the Reformation from Popery carried on
by John Knox ? "

" We are not come here," said they, " to answer questions, but
to ask."

" But," replied he, " the answering of that to me would be a full
answer by me to your question."

Then said the Bishop [Paterson], " The Reformation was good,
but the way of carrying it on was ill."

A. " That is a marvellous thing, to think God would approve
the actors in such actions, and yet the method be ill, and they to
have a most solid peace [before God] in these actions, and to have
such a mouth to defend it, as all the wits in their days could not be

3o6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

able to withstand, as will be clear to any that read the history of the
Reformation."

" O," said they, " he has read the history of the Reformation. Ay,
but you will not find it in the Scripture," said they, " that the people
may resist the prince ; for then they take the magistrate's part on
them, and therein declare themselves to be above their prince."

A. "The people resisted Saul, and would not let him kill
Jonathan (i Sam. xiv. 45)."

The Bishop [Paterson] said, " The people were in the wrong."

A. " The Scripture never condemns the deed."

Q. " Do you own authority ? "

A. " Authority may be taken several ways : i. For the simple
command of the prince ; 2. For the more public command of the
prince and people ; 3. For a power a prince may be clothed with by
a people ; 4. For a prince's right to govern. In all which ways
Gouldman's Dictionary, the ordinary expositor ^'" words, takes it.
And in the first two senses, since many both of the prince's edicts
and public Acts of Parliament are directly against Presbyterians and
Presbyterian government, to own it in these senses, I should deny
myself to be a Presbyterian. In the third sense, since the people
have clothed the king with the headship of the Church, I cannot
own that ; because the eleventh article [chapter] of the Confession
of Faith, contained in the Test, says, * That office pertains properly
to Christ alone, and that it is not lawful for man or angel to intrude
therein.' As for the last sense of authority, his right to govern, I
have not seen through it [or, I have not seen through the denial
of it.] "

Q. " Will you venture your life on these things ? "

A. " My hfe is in God's hand."
After these questions, they set down that he was a captain at
Bothwell, and an imperfect recital of his words, which they desired
him to subscribe ; but he refused.

At his last appearance before the Criminal Court, the Advocate
accosted him thus, " Though, sir, you have been a rebel, and though
you studied to draw that poor man Laurie to the gallows, yet you
see how merciful the king is to these men (which were four who
swore the Test), and there is place left to you for mercy, if you will
not obstinately persist in your opinion."

He answered, " I have neither done any deed, nor given you an
account of any opinion, but what I have justified from the Confession

John Wilson. 307

of Faith, which you have lately sworn from the ancient Reformation,
(which ye cannot condemn), and from the concessions of your own
doctors,"

" What ! " says Perth, " will you justify your taking arms at
Bothwell ? "

A. " Your own Test justifies the defence of the life of the harmless."

The Advocate says, " All the Indulged, yea, almost all Presby-
terians condemn it ; then," says he, " will ye bond before sentence ?
for there is no place left for the king's mercy after sentence."

A. " I will not ; but remember, that one day all sentences will be
canvassed before the great Judge of heaven and earth."

OLLOW some REASONS of his Answers, and Reflec-
tions made thereupon by himself

" When I was on my journey betwixt Edinburgh
and Lanark, and several times before having con-
sidered the bold testimony of Stephen, ' Ye stiff-necked
and uncircumcised in heart' (Acts vii. 51, 52);
and Peter's testimony, ' Whom ye slew, and hanged
on a tree ' (Acts v. 30) ; and his desire that with all boldness they
might make mention of the name of Jesus; and lastly, that promise,
* In nothing terrified by your adversaries ' (Phil. i. 28) ; I say,
considering these, I resolved to use the utmost of freedom with the
Council ; but being come to this town, and

" I. Having considered that the Council desired to pick such
quarrels with any in our condition as might give the least umbrage
to the world of the justice of their dealings ;

" 2. Considering that by many professed friends we were judged
imprudent ; yea, so far condemned, that they stick not to say, that
we have a hand in our own death ;

" 3. Their own public proclamations still bearing that our design was
not religion, but covetousness to possess ourselves of the government :
" For eviting \i.e., avoiding] of these, I resolved to be as cautious
as I could, without prejudice to truth. So that, taking my answers
for defensive arms out of the Test which they had sworn, from the
concessions of their greatest doctors, and from the deed of their
predecessor Council, whereof some present were members, I thought

3o8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

it had been a ridiculous thing to make me condemn that which they
had ratified by an oath, [which] their great doctor had yielded, and
their predecessor Council had approven. But that I might have God's
approbation in demeaning myself so, and do what I did therein in
failh, I took that rule, ' Be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meek-
ness and fear' (i Pet. iii. 15). And as I thought I had reason to bless
God that had guided my tongue so, that I was not a whit concerned
either with shame or fear ; so I came back to prison with a heart
sorry that I should have left these two questions of the Chancellor's
unanswered, viz., ' Thought I it duty to rise in arms against a Stat
not of my opinion ? ' In answer to which question, I thought, if ever
I had occasion, I would have been punctual in telling them [that] the
question was wrong stated ; for the right state of the question was,
' WTien a state destroys the true profession of godliness sworn to by
the land, and persecutes the owners thereof The second question,
' If I would have gone to Bothwell again ? ' I thought, if such a ques-
tion came in my way, 1 would have told them, that I behoved to be
at God's call ; and likewise, I was sorry that I had not been nimble
enough to have taken opportunity, when the question anent authority
was moved, to have testified against the ecclesiastical Headship and
sinful acts against God's Church ; I say, my omission, occasioned
through their confused asking, bred me humiliation after I returned
to prison.

" As to my second examination, as I had desired opportunity to
testify against the Headship of the Church, and other sinful acts
destroying God's work, so I got opportunity, and so I discharged my
conscience. But yet there was something left to exercise me with ;
and that was —

" T. \\Tien the Bishop [Paterson] said, ' that were a distracted act
for the king to alienate the kingdom to strangers,' that I said not, it
was an act of more distraction to destroy religion.

" 2. That, in citing the words of the i ith article of the Confession
against the Headship, I should have said simply, it was unlawful to
presume to intrude on that oflSce ; whereas the Confession itself calls
them blasphemers ; and thereby mincing the word.

"3. When the Bishop said, it were a Turkish way to carry on
refomnation by the sword, I had notopponed [?>., opposed] their pre-
sent practice and violence in pressing men's consciences ; and have
said, since they looked upon conscience as so tender a thing, to beware

John Wilson. 309

of squeezing it so by oppression. I know I have an infirmity in
answering off-hand, anent which I hope all God's people will observe
the rule of bearing one another's infirmities.

" Next, I am sure that the Lord hath not supplied me as to these
answers for my further exercise.

" As to the reason why I said, I could not see through the denial
of authority in the last sense (for, though I could not see through it,
yet, it being such an abominable stating of themselves in a continual
opposition to God and godliness, I scunnered \i.e., loathed] to own
it) the reason that moved me to say that I could not see through it
was, I desire to tread the paths of our old Reformers, who delayed
the casting off authority, till they had a probable power to back it ;
yet, afterwards considering his breach of covenant to us, and these
deeds done by that authority, that, in any well guided commonwealth,
would annul his right, I thought I had worded authority ill in the
last sense, and that it had been more proper [if] I had said, ' I could
not see through the denying of obedience to such commands as were
indifferent, or according to God's word.' And, indeed, till God had
furnished us with a probable power, I could never see through this ;
and I am verily of that opinion, that we, having lusted for a king, got
him in God's wrath ; and that since we have entered in Covenant with
him, God will take His own way to take him away in His displeasure,
and will not let it be by our hand : though I grant that his breach of
paction to us looseth us, our paction being still conditional, to own him
in defence of religion \ and my earnest desire is, there may be no dif-
ference among Presbyterians anent this ; for I have a strong opinion,
that God will take that question out of the way shortly.

" As for the Bishop's death, I could not call it murder ; because
of Jael, Ehud, and Phineas, their facts ; Jael using that expression,
' Turn in hither ; ' and that ' there was peace betwixt Heber the
Kenite and Jabin ;' Jael being of that family, and, whatever might be
alleged against these as extraordinary acts, and that to do such
deeds is to take the magistrate's power. I am sure Phineas was a
priest, and it was none of his office to kill any man and yet his
fact is commended. Next, Knox his preaching to and biding
\i.e., remaining] with the killers of Cardinal Beaton ; and Calder-
wood's History, which was approven by the Assembly, calling them
men of courage and resolution, whom God stirred up. Next, the
Lord Ruthven and others killing a companion that abused Queen Mary
by his ill counsel [Rizzio], and yet approven in Knox's history. There-

3 1 o A Cloud of Witnesses.

fore, if the killers of the Bishop (having a zeal against the blood-
thirstiness of that wretch, and being deeply affected therewith, and
with love to the brethren, whom he like a wolf was seeking to have
devoured, and had devoured) slew him, I durst not call it murder.
But if the actors were touched with anything of particular prejudice
or other by-ends, I am very confident, that Scripture, of avenging the
blood of Jezebel upon the house of Jehu, would not suffer me to
justify it. So, not knowing the actors' hearts therein, I could neither
say yea, nor nay ; but Christians should judge charitably.

" I forgot likewise to tell them, that the Bishop of Glasgow's laying
down his gown, upon the making of the Act Explanatory, might be
an aggravation of my sin, if I should own the King's headship over
the Church ; which T had really resolved to say, but forgot.

OLLOW the REASONS why he refused at first to sup-
plicate the Council for a reprieve, being importuned
by his relations to do it.

" Upon the 7th of May 1683, being desired to
petition, I answered, I could think upon no petition
nor arguments that could be acceptable with them, but
such as were either directly or indirectly a receding
from what I professed. The reason of my petition was moved thus :
" I. To seek a longer time, till I were better advised anent my
answers given to the Council. To which I answered, that [this] would
say to all the world, that, for as tenacious as we were of our principles,
yet we might seem to call them in question ; and it might say, that I
was pressing with others to die on these principles, which death put
me to a stand anent myself; and so I should give grouiid of harden-
ing to enemies.

" 2. It was moved, that, through my confusions since I came to
prison, I should seek a reprieval. To this I answered, I durst not
slander Christ's cross, wherein every step to me had been mercy and
truth ; and my rebellious flesh needed no less (conform to my own
acknowledgment to God) nor [i.e., than] what was come to subdue it ;
and that I could not well see through that, fearing it would be bad
company so near my death ; that I firmly trusted all should work for
my well [i.e., weal] ; and to say that, were to contradict my conscience

John Wilson. 3 1 1

and God's goodness, and to make me contradict my own prayer, viz.,
' Let neither flesh nor spirit be moved and failed, lest enemies rejoice.'

" 3. That I should petition that I might have a longer time
simply to prepare for eternity. To which I said, I could not do it
in faith ; for, ever since I came to prison, God has made me believe
that He, who has begun a good work in me, would also finisli it ; and
that He would perfect that which concerned me, according to His
own Word, and, however little a business this may seem in the eyes
of the world, yet to me it imports my going to another airt [/>.,
quarter] for perfecting and finishing of this work begun by God.
Then, if they refused it, they might taunt and say, Whatever confi-
dence he had at his death, yet it is gotten of \i.e., in] a very short
space ; and if a reprieval should be given, they might at my sentence
say I was their debtor for it. And besides all this, I fear, when I
come back to God for preservation, He should send me to the
broken cistern I had been hewing out (Jer. ii. 13). And I know,
if conscience would permit me to do it, enemies would think, either
he is lying, in pretending want of preparation, and so it is the best
time to hold to him when he has committed sin ; or otherwise, they
would think I were speaking truth, and so say, the only best way is
to hold to him when he is tottering."

(Notwithstanding all these reasons against petitioning, he regrets
it that his relations induced him to supplicate twice ; first, on account
of his wife's case, who was then great with child, and in danger of
death through grief; next, on his own account, whereupon he ob-
tained a reprieval , during which time he had a conference with Sir
William Paterson, which, being on the same heads with his answers
before the Council, for brevity's sake, is omitted.)

HE LAST SPEECH and TESTIMONY of the said
John Wilson.

" Now, being called to lay down my life, which I de-
clare I do cheerfully ; I do declare, I adhere to the Con-
fession of Faith, anent which, for exoneration of my own
conscience, I am under a necessity to leave this caution
in reference to that clause contained in the 23d chap,
sec. 4., viz., 'That infidelity or difference in religion does not make

312 A Cloud of Witnesses.

void the magistrate's just and legal power and authority,' etc. ; that
the composers, having an eye to the Pope's scurvy usurpations, to
dethrone Protestant kings, and dispose of their kingdoms under the
notion of heretics, did put it in ; yet, I could find no further proof for
that in the Scripture, but what only respects Christians scattered up
and down in a heathenish empire ; and that it can be no prejudice
against deposing a Protestant king, turning Papist or Pagan ; since,
among people professing God, the idolater should die the death ; for
then it would seem to jostle with Queen Mary's deposition in our
ancient Reformation ; designing offence to none hereby, but the
satisfying of my own conscience.

" Also, I adhere to the Work of Reformation former and latter.
And I think our Catechisms well worded, for evading of errors. As
also the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties,
anno 1648, Covenants, National and Solemn League, and parti-
cularly to the government of the Church by a parity of ministers,
and subordination of Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies,
according to the Presbyterian way, as being most exactly according
to the word of God, and as tending most to the furtherance of purity
and godliness ; and I profess myself a member thereof, as being
reformed from Prelacy and Erastianism, etc.

" I leave my testimony against the Indulgence, as making a breach
of the sweet unity that should have been among Presbyterians, and
as depending on the magistrate, as to the exercise of their office ;
and for their over-weening love of ease ; and for being bound up as
to the showing of public duties, and reproving of public sins, and for
refusing the exercise of their office (to these without their parish) of
marrying and baptising ; denying themselves thereby to be ministers
of the Church Catholic, and declaring plainly thereby, they will
follow the injunctions laid on them by men. Yet I advise all the
godly to leave off hatred towards them, and to cherish anything that
may look like good in them.

" I leave my testimony against the paying Cess, the payment
whereof is a perfect test of the payer's adhering to the rooting out of
conventicles as ' the rendezvouses of rebellion,' and acknowledging
the king's grandeur over Church and State, as it is presently estab-
lished by the laws of this realm ; this being the very narrative and
foundation of that Act. And I have found the Indulged averse to
condemn it; the narrative of their license being somewhat sibb \i.e.,
akin] thereto ; but as to the other public burdens, such as the com-

John Wilson.

j^o

mon revenue of the crown or locality (though I speak not this to
justify myself, these not being my tentations), I desire a tenderness
to be used to all such as have not clearness therein, in respect the
apostle seems to difference them : ' But if any man say unto you,
this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not' (i Cor. x. 28).

" I leave my testimony against hearing of curates, especially by
professed Presbyterians ; as being contradictory to the Covenants,
binding us to the uttermost of our power for the extirpating [of] Pre-
lacy. Our active power being stopped, our next should be, to leave
a testimony by suffering, and as being contrary to the rule of faith ;
for what Presbyterian can pray for a blessing to that ordinance, where
the chief dispenser is a blasphemer, by swearing the Test, wherein
the Headship of the Church (Christ's prerogative) is sworn by them
to pertain to a man ; as being expressly contrary to that Scripture ;
My sheep hear my voice, but a stranger they will not follow, but
flee from him (John x. 5). And here I think it not amiss to add
the words of Philpot, that learned and godly martyr of the joiners
with the Papistical Church, seeing the reason he gives holds good
here :

" We can do no greater injury to the true Church of Christ (whereof
He is the only head) ; nor [/>., than] to seem to have forsaken her
by cleaving to her adversary, and that God's jealousy, in the day of
vengeance, will cry for vengeance against such, unless they cleave
inseparably to the Gospel of Christ. And that there must be no
counterfeit illusion with them in this, and that there must be no pre-
sence of the body there, we being commanded to glorify God as well
in body as spirit. Thus are his words imperfectly, yet truly as I
remember ; and since the Prelatical Church has not Christ for her
only head, the reason holds still good.

" I could heartily wish that all the serious godly would leave off
their joining with the Indulgence, for in respect (to my own view) it
has been attended with coldrifeness [/.<?., indifference] as to public
sins, a gluedness to the world, and an infatuateness as to approach-
ing judgments, and lastly, being a countenancing of them in that
compliance with enemies. But since I have little hopes thereof,
I wish all the seriously godly to be tender towards such, whose eyes
are not enlightened to behold the evil of it, and to restrict their with-
drawments to persons of their own number, who recede from what
they profess ; since the end proposed by that rule, ' withdraw from
every brother that walketh disorderly,' is to make ashamed ; it can-

314 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

not be supposed to attain its end anywhere else ; and to study to do
that which may be most edifying to all men, ' Let all things be done
to edifying.'

" I leave my testimony against that abominable Test, Declaration,
Act of Supremacy, and all other Acts overturning the work of God,
and against all the blood shed upon that account.

" And next, I think no man coming before the Council can ac-
knowledge the king's authority simply (considering that he is clothed
with one of the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, to wit, the headship
of the Church, wherein to intrude is blasphemy for man or angel)
unless they be guilty of giving him that usurped title. And this is
the ground of my suffering, mainly for affirming Christ's headship
over the Church to be His prerogative alone, which is the occasion
of the brunt of the ruler's anger. And herein I have a most solid
peace ; for Christ says. He came to bear witness to that truth, that
He was a king ; and so I think that my sufferings are merely a
part of Christ's sufferings. And though some say, I might have been
sparing as to this confession, I say, I durst not keep up my lips ; they
themselves having sworn that in the Confession of Faith, in their Test,
which I affirmed, namely, that it is blasphemy for man or angel to
usurp this title ; yet is the great heat of malice stated hereon ; but
there is no piece of my suffering [which] yields me more content.
Nor can any Christian come before them acknowledging authority
simply, without being guilty of yielding this, it being declared essential
to the crown, as Mr Donald Cargill well notes in his testimony. And
I think that question of authority being propounded, a man has a fair
open door to witness against the encroachments on Christ's rights.
I understand somewhat more of the mystery of this state nor \i.e.,
than] I did, and, conform to my weak conceptions, you may take it
up thus :

" The king, having through straits abroad, been complimented, and
probably supplied, by Papists, lies under engagements to introduce
Popery ; and, for that effect, takes this method to overturn the hedge
of church-government and discipline, and turn out all honest-hearted
ministers, and force people to a compliance with hirelings, to debauch
men's consciences, and, from one degree to another, to bring in
Popery ; but he being a man so addicted to pleasures (and whiles
counteracted by Parliaments) loving ease : wherefore Papists practise
to put him in mind of his engagements by aiming at his life ; he,
finding himself in this strait, and being in straits through his lavish-

John Wilson. 315

ness to court ladies, these straits must be supplied by the king of
France and the Pope, and for requital thereof, the management of
the government must be turned over to his brother, who must have a
cardinal and some Jesuits to contrive the mystery of iniquity, and
bring this land to Babylon ; in order thereunto, statesmen must be
set up, who are emulators of others, and men that studied to pick
quarrels with others ; and then comes a general mittimus from court,
to act after such a method of cruelty. For the Jesuits know, where
two contrary parties act this game, they will be sure, for fear of their
places, to consent to go alongst to the utmost of cruelty. The next
mystery is to convene the whole country by circuit courts, as guilty
some of treason, some for one transgression, and some for another,
(the whole country being generally guilty by their laws), and force
them to rise in arms ; and then gather Papists and take occasion to
bum and slay all the country over (the Lord in His mercy take them
in their own net !) But I fear Popery shall once overspread ; and I
am really of that opinion, that God shall root this race of kings (root
and branch) away, and make them Zeba and Zalmunna-like, not only
for taking God's house in possession, but also, emitting in their last
printed proclamation or indemnity, that they resolve to root out the
seed of the godly, under the name of fanatics.

" My advice and humble request to ministers is, to be tender
toward any this day that has zeal, though knowledge be not so great,
and to be less fearful of outward danger, and more active where per-
secution hath been hottest, where they may have any freedom. My
advice to all professors is, to lay no imposition on ministers' con-
sciences ; and that for the Lord's sake they would study to take some
in among them, that have light and judgment, to withstand the flood
of defection and Popery that is like to overspread the land. And
again, I leave another advice to ministers and professors, that where
any have suffered for their consciences, they would be sparing to
condemn them.

" I come now to declare my first engagement with God, which was
about ten years hence j which was through reading of the ' Fulfilling of
the Scriptures,' and Scriptural truths therein contained, and the
grounds of out-making thereof, which gave a check to my atheism,
which is naturally seated in all men's hearts ; the next was Gray's
'Sermons on Prayer;' and the last, Guthrie's 'Trial of an Interest
in Christ.' All which God so powerfiiUy laid home to my conscience,
that I then covenanted with God ; and though at that time I could

1 6 A Cloud of Wihiesses.

not get the faith of perseverance, yet I had a respect to all His
statutes, so that the Bible was a most sweet book to me. And I took
up my whole time, for near a year thereafter, in studying religion (the
most pleasant time that ever I had in my lifetime), yea, it was a bur-
den to me to turn me to my necessary affairs in the world. I found
religion sharpen me in all my natural parts ; yea, bring me, who was
naturally a most anxious, fretting, grudging creature, to such a calm-
ness and serenity in cross providences, that I thought, though there
were neither hell nor heaven, religion was a reward to itself And I
was so taken up with Christ's gracious condescendency, that His
name was most pleasing, yet durst I not draw a conclusion of an
assurance and perseverance ; yea, was put to question the work itself
upon account of the quality of my repentance ; but meeting with
Guthrie's ' Trial of a Saving Interest in Christ,' I found sensibly that
it swallowed up a law work in love ; but I found this, that there is
not a more excellent piece of the armour of God nor \i.e., than] the
helmet of salvation, and which Satan is most busy with a Christian to
keep off I found, likewise, as knowledge and grace grew, that pre-
sumption grew ; that is, that with what I had gotten^ I could walk
alone ; but that truth, ' without me ye can do nothing,' was known to
my sad cost.

" But after all this sweet time, yea, I may say most sweet time,
falling more and more engaged in worldly affairs, I found an impossi-
bility to me to be instant in business and fervent in spirit ; so that
some throngs in these, abated that life which I had, and accordingly,
as love grew to outward things, so decreased that power and life [to
which] I had attained ; yet so, as all alongst, I find that God has
still been holding me by the hand, and I desire, with submission to
other men's judgments, to say, I think a person falling in love with
godliness, covenanting with God, to have a respect to all His statutes
without exception, counting the cost, and seeing the cost of them-
selves imprestable \i.e., a work that cannot be performed by them-
selves], and believing that Christ, who was the author, will be the
finisher of such a work ; I say, I cannot think that ever God will
part with such who do so covenant with Him ; yea, it has been a
comfort to me, when I could see no more of my interest in Him, but
that I said, Thou art my God ; and as I cannot conceal the loving-
kindness of God, so, upon the other hand, without compliments, as
the words of a dying man, I look upon myself as the most worthless
object that ever free love has paged and waited upon through the

yokn VVilsoti. 3 1 7

world, compassed about with so many sins, and clothed with such a
perverse nature ; but it is He with whom I made the bargain [who],
makes crooked things straight, and rugged places plain.

" Next, I advise all sufferers to beware of proposing to themselves
to do this and the other thing for safety of life \ which is sinful ; for
if such a false mind be in folk, God will lead them forth with the
workers of iniquity, and they will not miss stumbling-blocks to be
laid before them. I say this to them who have sinned, and yet con-
tinue in the furnace ; I fear that be their doom, ' They shall go from
their native land, and return no more' (Jer xxii. lo). As for you that
have Tested, that which has been a terror to me may be now a terror
to you : ' It is impossible for these who were once enlightened, and
tasted the heavenly gift, if they fall away, by putting Christ to open
shame, to renew them to repentance.'

" As for unconcerned folk, I shall only say this ; think you
nothing of men's choosing death before life ? I know I have gotten
Roman gallantry cast up to me smce I came to prison ; but, for my
own part, I could never hear tell that it set up the head of it in the
world, to face a gallows, since the word of hell became so rife in the
world. But let me tell you this one thing ; that, though I have read
of some single ones dying for opinion (not truth), yet could I never
read of a tract of men, such as has been in Scotland these twenty-two
years, laying down their lives for a naked opinion so calmly, so
solidly and composedly, [and] with so much peace and serenity.
As for my own part, I am a man naturally most timorous, yet the
Lord has made sufferings easy. It might do you good to inquire
into the cause of our sufferings so owned by God. It is a bad cause
that is defended with swords and beating of drums on sufferers ;
and besides, the Lord has forced a testimony from the mouths of
several of our dying adversaries, and from the mouths of executioners
and apprehenders ; yea, in this place, some Psalms they (being clear
of the application thereof to themselves) would not suffer to be sung.

" As to professed Presbyterians ; too many of you, for your uncon-
cernedness I am sure the Lord says, ye shall drink of another sort of
a cup that is brewing for you ; shun it as you will by your compliance.
As for our really concerned friends ; I pray the Lord to protect you
and multiply His grace towards you. I am confident, when you are
beneath the rod, ye shall find it an ease to your own smart, however
great a lift you have taken of others' sufferings.

" Next, I say to all that come under the rod ; let no terrors of

3 1 3 A Cloud of Witnesses.

men, nor temptations of Satan anent eternity, come into your mind,
but go to God with them, acknowledging your unworthiness of His
protection and counsel, and you will find Him faithful not to suffer
you to be tempted above what you are able. It is no new thing to
be assaulted with terrors without, and within with fears. The apostle,
a most experienced Christian, wanted not this. I see a Christian to
be a most passive creature in his own salvation, yet there must be
an all of diligence, otherwise the roaring lion will soon get advan-
tages ; and you must know this, that the sufferers have a large allow-
ance, and although His own want not in their sufferings the faith of
adherence to Him, yet ye must not think to sail that way in a bed of
roses to heaven, but that you must have fire in your trial ; I mean, a
deserting God as to apprehension ; yet wait patiently, and at length
He will incline His ear, and you shall not want experience to say,
" For but a moment lasts His wrath."

" And now I leave my dear wife, children, and sisters upon the
Lord, who gave me such sweet, refreshing relations, and desire all
the people of God to be kind to them ; and I bless the Lord He has
enabled me to quit them to Him ; and, though the Lord has made
every one of them so sweet and so pleasing to me, that I have been
forced to curb my affection with the bridle of religion, yet herein, I
bless the Lord, He has given me a heart to go through my cross with
forgetfulness of all, yea, to be most unconcerned in the tears and
weeping of my relations.

"And now I leave all God's people, and others, with this, that
His cross is beautiful ; yea, though I had got occasion of escaping
prison since sentence, yet 1 durst not without a check of conscience
have done it. And though I did petition, yet there was (to me) two
necessary ends therein \ first, they designing to make me odious,
that I would not seek my life, and I desiring to make my suffering
clear to their own consciences to be unjust ; and next, if anything
ailed my wife, [that] I might lay her blood at their door. But I would
advise all to beware of them, for there must be frequent consulting
with God, and a reasonable judgment to discern their snares, it being
their main design to ensnare. I advise any, called to suffering, never
to quit with the faith of adherence, and they shall not want the faith
of assurance ; for since ever 1 came to prison, I saw and believed
God's design to me was love, and, having emptied me of all promises
to sufferers, and of all my own righteousness, made me close with
Him, and take Him for all, and believingly to rest on Him, and have

George Martin.

recourse to Him for grace to supply necessity, and give me a believ-
ing (though to me incomprehensible) of seeing Him as He is, and
knowing Him, even as I am known of Him.

" Now I die, commending to all the people of God that duty of
unity, conform to Timothy ii. 22, ' Follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart' And
that, ' If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellow-
ship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth
us from all sin ' (i John 1. 7). I do not say this to make up an
union or joining with these I testify againsc
" Sic siibscndiiur,

"JOHN WILSON."

HIS worthy, judicious martyr, being obliged to write his
testimony in several papers, and convey them out secretly
by parts (by reason of the strictness of the persecutors, who
searched the martyrs about this time with much severity), could not
get it reduced to order. Wherefore, it is hoped, the candid reader will
not be offended if he finds the method altered a little from what it
was in the manuscript, seeing there is nothing in the sense, or phrase
of the author, changed, but only his additions put in their proper
place of the testimony ; some very few things, less material, being left
out for brevity's sake."

George Martin.

EORGE MARTIN was a ' Notar,' i.e., a notary-public and
reader at Dailly, in Ayrshire. Fountainhall adds, that he
was a schoolmaster. The account of him in Wodrow is very
meagre, but from what Martin states in his testimony, his sufferings
must have been very great. He was apprehended, on what charge does
not appear, in the close of 1679, and he actually remained in prison

320 A Clo7id of Witnesses.

untried for four years and four months. During this long period, he
was occasionally in irons, night and day ; and, during winter, without
fire. His privations were borne with much patience. The marvel is
that he lived through them to be at last tried.

The record of his trial, as it stands on the Justiciary books, is
dated February ii, 1683 : "Being interrogated if he owns the king
to be lawful king, and will pray for him ; declares, he will not say he
disowns him, but owns all lawful authority according to the word of
God. He will not answer whether Bothwell Bridge be rebellion ; he
will not judge of other folk's actings 3 he owns the obligation of the
Covenant, and will adhere to it while he lives. He will not call
Bothwell Bridge rebellion, but says, if it was a rebellion against
God it was rebellion ; if not, it was not rebellion. He will not
subscribe. Being interrogated if the late king's death was murder,
declares, they that did it had more skill than he ; refuses to call it
murder, and says, he does not think it pertinent to give a declaration
anent it."

Free of ground of condemnation as these answers are, yet, from
them alone (for no witnesses were summoned), he was sentenced
to be hanged at the Grassmarket. His testimony gives evidence of
his piety, and of the judicial murder which his judges committed
in his execution.

As stated at the close of his testimony, he was tried along with
John Gilry, wright, in the parish of Hownam, in Roxburghshire.
Gilry's examination and answers were much the same with those of
his fellow prisoner, and they likewise formed the only matter brought
against him. Still less is known of him than George Martin. All
that \Vodrow says of him is —

" I have before me two original letters, signed John Gilry, from
the Iron House, December 27, 1683, which savour much of humility,
self-diffidence, and meekness ; wherein he offers many solid grounds
of support to sufferers, and presses them to observe providences, and
believe well of God. He died in much serenity and peace, adoring
free grace, and adhering to the truths of Christ, and firmly trusting
in Him for salvation." In the Justiciary records John Gilry's name
does not occur, but that of John Ker, wright, in the parish of How-
nam, does. Wodrow regards Ker as a mistake for Gilry. There is
no doubt that a third person, James Muir, at Cessfordboat, in Rox-
burghshire, who was tried with_ them, but of him little else is kno\\Ti
than his name and sentence.

The High Church, Edinburgh.

(From the South. A. I). 1800.)

George Martin. 321

Fountainhall's notice of the three martyrs is a curiosity : " Martin,
a notar and schoohiiaster, and other two, condemned at the circuit,
and hanged, 2 2d February 1684. They were offered their lives, but
refused the same, being ingrained whigs." — Ed.]

> '•♦O— ^

HE LAST TESTIMONY of George Martin, who
suffered at the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, upon the
22d of February 1684.

" My Dear Friends,— After four years and near
four months' captivity and bondage, for this glorious
and honourable cause of Jesus Christ, for which I
have been kept sometimes in bolts and fetters night
and day, without fire, and other necessaries ; and now at the end of
the foresaid space, being sentenced to die ; I thought it fit to signify
to you why I was so sentenced, as the adversaries gave it forth.
And it is this ; I could not own, nor allow of the king's authority, as
it is now established, nor pray for liim in a superstitious, idolatrous
manner, nor call the late Prelate of St Andrews' and the late king's
death murder, nor Bothwell Bridge rebellion, and abjure the Cove-
nant. All which I refused, and could do upon no terms.

" As to the first, I could not own, nor allow of the present govern-
ment, as it is now established, because it is derogatory to the crown
and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, in robbing Him of His royal
prerogatives, ' In their setting of their threshold by My thresholds, and
their post by My posts, and the wall between Me and them, they have
even defiled My holy name by their abominations that they have
committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger '(Ezek.
xliii. 8). ' And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of
Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, O ye house of Israel, let it suffice
you of all your abominations, in that ye have brought into my
sanctuary strangers, un circumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in
flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye
offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my
covenant, because of all youi abominations. And ye have not kept
the charge of mine holy things ; but ye have set keepers of my charge
in my sanctuary for yourselves ' (Ezek. xliv. 6-8). ' Shall even he

,22 A Cloud of Witnesses.

that hateth right govern ? and wilt thou condemn him that is most
just?' (Job xxxiv. 17). Who durst do it, and be guiltless? And
moreover, ' Which say to the seers. See not ; and to the prophets,
Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, pro-
])hesy deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of tlie path,
cause the holy One of Israel to cease from before us' (Isa. xxx. 10, 1 1).

And I cannot, nor dare not pray for him so superstitiously :

" I. Because it imports a set form of prayer, which is most super-
stitious, and that which is their dreadful design.

" 2. It imports idolatry, like unto the cry of the people made
mention of in Acts xix. 34, who had a cry for the space of two hours,
of that idol, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians,' which was rejected,
with some kind of reason, by some of their own sort, though heathens,
and much more ought it here.

" 3. Another reason why I cannot pray after such a manner is ; I
find when prayer is rightly discharged, and seriously gone about, in
the manner, time, and place, as is warranted by the Word of God,
that God is thereby worshipped and honoured ; and if irreverently
gone about, He is dishonoured, and His name profaned, and taken in
vain, which is abomination to Him, and which He saith His enemies
do, and for which He will not hold them guiltless.

" 4. I dare not pray so superstitiously for him, because I find
Jeremiah three times expressly forbidden to i)ray for a people, not
guilty of all the things that he is guilty of, though he be guilty of all
their sins, and many others also. See for this, Jer. vii. 16, where it
is said, ' Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry
nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me : for I will not
hear thee.' ' Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up
a cry or prayer for them : for I will not hear them in the time that
they cry unto me for their trouble' (Jer. xi. 14). 'Then said the
Lord unto me. Pray not for this peo{)le for their good. When the)-
fast, I will not hear their cry' (Jer. xiv. 11, 12). ' If we have for-
gotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange
god ; shall not God search this out ? for He knoweth the secrets of
the heart' (Ps. xliv. 20, 21). * If any man see his brother sin a
sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life
for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death : I do
not say that he shall pray for it ' (i John v. 16). I fear some sins in
this land have too near bordering with that sin. Innumerable Scrip-
tures are to this purpose, but these may suffice at present.

George Martin. 323

" Another thing makes me scruple, because they command no
more prayers to be prayed, save unto thee, O king (Dan. vi. 7).

" And lastly, I dare not pray it, because all the profane profligate
])ersons have it always in their mouth, especially when they are
drunk ; and if I do what they do, I fear I go where they go. But
blessed be the Lord, who has yet prevented me from the paths of
these destroyers. Much of this was spoken when I was before them,
and so I shall forbear to speak any more as to this question.

" The next question is, in order to the Prelate's death, whether it
was murder or not? Murder, I dare not call it, more than Eglon's,
Sisera's, and Balaam's deaths, but the just judgment of God for his
fearful apostacy and backsliding, together with the horrid murders
committed by him upon the saints and servants of God.

" The third is, that of the death of the late king : Whether it was
murder or not ? I am not much to meddle with it. But the many
thousands that were slain in England, the horrid murder committed
by the Irish in Ireland, and the dreadful slaughter of the Protestants
in Scotland, cause great thoughts of heart, that it was a fatal stroke.

" A fourth thing, whether Bothwell Bridge was rebelUon ? which,
whether it was so or not, may appear, if ye consider our former
engagements to that effect.

" And fifthly, anent owning and adhering to the Covenants ? We
answered publicly before the Court, That in all the Scripture it was
warrantable, both to make covenants, and also to keep them, and
that there was never a covenant so broken, but that which was punished
by signal judgments and plagues by the Lord.

" These were the answers to the indictment, and whereupon the
sentence of death passed, or for not answering to some of these
questions ; for which I must lay down my life, and if this be not
murder, let the Christian nations bear witness, if ever the like was
done in any Christian kingdom heretofore.

" But now, being straitened for want of time, and other incon-
veniences, I cannot say much more to you. Only I leave it with you
as my last advice, that ye would endeavour to keep the way of the Lord
sincerely, and not to meddle with them that are given to such changes,
which alas ! too many plead for, and are given to this day ; and that
ye would not be so formal in many things, concerning godliness, and
the work and worship of God. Formality, [it] may be feared, will
give many a beguile, when it cannot be mended.

" As first, I beseech you, be more observant in keeping the Lord's

324 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Day, in rising betimes in the morning, and in spending the whole
time in worshipping of God sincerely. Take heed to your thoughts,
words, and actions. And when ye set a day apart — I mean of humi-
liation— give God the whole day, and notice what success ye have
had, and how you have found the work thrive and prosper among
you. And use less disputings, even in things seemingly necessary ;
and be more in examination and edification, both of yourselves and
others. And believe it, a well-spent Sabbath will be helpful to spend
the week well. And also labouring to have your conversation aright
through the week will be a noble presage to begin the Sabbath.

" And what ye spare of your ordinary diet, bestow it upon the poor
and needy. There is this among many who profess to be religious,
which is odious, that they take well with it to be called religious, and
yet they have little or no scruple to do wrong, and speak wrong of
others, and towards them. I beseech you, sin not, though there were
no e)^e to see you but God, either by doing or suffering. Ye will
never perform religious duties aright, till ye be at this, that ye dare
do wrong in no kind to any. Do justly, and love mercy, and walk
humbly with your God. Alas ! it is sad to see and hear judgments
and plagues multiplied, and sin so much increasing.

" O for more tenderness one towards another, and of a spirit of
meekness and zeal for God ; give yourselves to be ever in prayer one
with another, and one for another. "Wrestle with Him in behalf of
His Church and ruined work now borne down, and that He may
return to the land and pity His people ; and be importunate with
Him in this, lest the ruin thereof be found to be under your hand. I
fear ye may expect judgments to come suddenly upon this sinful
land ; so that ye will think, happy were they that wan \i.e., got] away
before they came. Therefore, so many of you as would in any mea-
sure escape the deluge of wrath, that is coming on this sinful genera-
tion, keep clean hands, and be free of the sinful abominations
committed therein ; and for witnessing against them, we are to lay
down our lives this da}-.

" And now, as a dying man, and a dying Christian, I join with, and
approve of all the Holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testa-
ments, both of threatenings and promises therein. As also, I agree
with, and allow of that excellent book, called the Confession of
Faith, with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving Know-
ledge, Directory for Worship ; and particularly I adhere to, and
allow of the two Covenants. l)oth National and Solemn League and

"1-

George Mai- tin. 325

Covenant, Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, with
all other contained in the forenamed book. As also, I do witness
and testify my dislike of the breaches and burnings of these Covenants
and of all other horrid abominations of that nature. And, likewise,
I abhor and detest all compliance or joining with the enemies of our
Lord Jesus Christ ; and more particularly of bonding, bargaining,
and informing, or putting them to do hurt, any manner of way, to
any of the Lord's poor afflicted, borne-down, wandering, and distressed
people. And in like manner, I hate and detest all communing with,
speaking favourably of, or eating or drinking with any such, except in
case of necessity. And, in like manner, I testify my dislike of that
dreadful, blasphemous, and abominable unparallelled Test, and all
pretended magistrates or ministers, which have taken the same, and
of all that meddle and join with them, or of payers of fines, for hearing
the Gospel, or transacting or coUeaguing with any such, any manner
of way, upon the foresaid account.

*' And lastly, I hate too much covetousness in prisoners who are
in any capacity to maintain themselves, and are yet burdensome to
other poor, mean (though charitable) people. And I join heartily with
the testimonies of our dear suffering brethren, who suffered either
formerly or of late. And, likewise, I join my testimony to a faithful
preached Gospel by faithful Presbyterian, lawfully called, and autho-
rised ministers, and lawful magistrates placed and empowered, as is
agreeable and warranted by the Word of God, and none other. And
notwithstanding I be branded with not admitting of magistracy and
kingly authority, I do hereby declare and make it known to the world,
that I do allow of lawful authority, agreeable and conformable to
the will and command of God, the only lawgiver, as much as any
man in my station in Scotland, and account a land happy and blessed
in having and enjoying of such.

" And now, being honoured to die for adhering to the truth, and
to die this same day, being the 2 2d of February 1684, I do hereby for-
give all persons all wrongs done to me, and wish tliem forgiveness, as
I desire to be forgiven of God.

" And now I leave all friends and Christian relations to the good
guiding of Almighty God, and bid all of you farewell in the Lord.
Farewell all worldly enjoyments and created comforts ; and welcome
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands I commit my spirit.

"GEORGE MARTIN."

326

A Cloud of Witnesses.

pGETHER vvi'th this martyr suffered John Gilry, wright in
the parish of Hownam, in Teviotdale, whose indictment was
founded upon tlie same heads, and his testimony is much of
a piece Avith his. He dies admiring and praising free grace, adhering
to the truths of Jesus, and firmly trusting in Him for salvation.

_<r^

John Main.

IJOHN MAIN suffered at the same time with four others,
James Johnston, John Richmond, Archibald Stewart, and
James Winning. Of all the five, little else is now known
beyond the fact of their trial and martyrdom.

John Main lived ■ in the parish of West Monkland. He was
apprehended with arms about him, November 1683, in the Gorbals
of Glasgow, at a time when a vigorous search was made after all
suspected of hostility to the Government. Sometime during his
imprisonment he made an attempt to escape, but he seems to have
been surprised and taken, when just about to succeed.

Of James Johnston, it is simply said, that he belonged to the
parish of Gadder.

John Richmond was younger of Knowe, a farm in Galston parish,
about a mile to the south of the village of Darvel, in Ayrshire. He
was seized in Glasgow, November 1683, the day previous to the
apprehension of John Main. He was walking on the street when
Major John Balfour tried to lay hold of him. Balfour knew nothing
of him, but declared that, from his garb, he was one of the persecuted.
A scuffle ensued, in which Richmond endeavoured to escape, but was
unsuccessful. He was overpowered, and, although there was no
charge against him except that he tried to get away when Balfour
sought to make him a prisoner, he was carried to the guardhouse.
Here he was tied neck and heels together, and, notwithstanding he
was bleeding from the wounds received in this effort to maintain his

yohn Main. 327

freedom, he was left lying on the ground till next day, when he was
taken to prison, where he lay for about five months till his trial.

Of Archibald Stewart little more is known than his name and
parish. He was a countryman, belonging to the parish of Lesmaha-
gow, and in the twentieth year of his age.

James Winning was a tailor in Glasgow. He had long been a
hearer of curates ; but, from some private information, he was sum-
moned, February 1684, to appear before one of the bailies. He
Avas examined about Bothwell and Archbishop Sharp's death. His
answers were deemed unsatisfactory, and he was sent to prison.

The five were tried in Glasgow on the same day, March 17, 16S4,
before a special commission. Their indictment was of the usual
nature. It charged them with being at Bothwell, and concealing
fugitives or conversing with them. K great many witnesses were
adduced, and their evidence, however improbable, was sustained,
after the manner of the times. One witness was asked, if he saw
John Main among the rebels with arms ? and answered, he saw him
coming from the eastward, while they were going westward. The
preses, Lieutenant-Colonel Windram, declared this statement was
material, and ordered the clerk to write, " depones, he saw John
Main coming to the rebels, and going from them in arms," a state-
ment nearly the opposite of what the witness said. Another affirmed
that he saw John Richmond at Airsmoss in arms. The preses asked
how far he was from the prisoner ? About half-a-mile, was the reply.
Improbable as was this assertion, it was sustained, and was, indeed,
the only evidence they had of his being at Airsmoss. Richmond, in
his testimony, mournfully complains, that four who witnessed against
him were persons who, by their previous profession, were bound to
defend him, rather than seek to take away his life. James Winning
was asked if he had anything against the witnesses ? and replied he
had nothing, but solemnly professed, as he was to answer to God at
the last day, that he never carried arms in his life, for or against any
man. The preses scoftingly replied, it was enough if he was in com-
pany with the rebels, though he had but his needle with him.

The trial seems to have lasted the whole day. John Richmond
says, it was eight o'clock at night when sentence was passed. They
were sentenced to die in less than two days — on the 19th of March
— at two in the afternoon, and, in Richmond's case at least, his head
was to be struck off and fixed upon the Tolbooth of Glasgow.

In the first edition of the " Cloud," the testimony of Main is the

328 A Cloud of Witnesses.

only one given in full, and the date, evidently by the printer's error,
given as May 19, instead of March 9. Of the others, there are
merely the extracts that immediately follow. Richmond's testimony
first occurs in the third edition, and Stewart's in the fourth. ..'Ul
of them justify Wodrow's encomium, that they were " five worthy and
good men."

Their bodies were buried in the churchyard of the Cathedral of
Glasgow. A monument to their memory, and that of Robert Bunton,
John Hart, Robert Scott, and Matthew Patoun, who suffered martyrdom
December 19th, 1666, for their share in the Pentland rising, has been
put upon the outer wall of one of the crypts of the Cathedral, at the
north side. Its inscription is in the Appendix. There is also a
monument to John Richmond in Galston Churchyard.

Gavin Wotherspoon, mentioned in a note of the Compilers, was
an intimate friend of James Renwick. He was a man of large stature,
and once when in company with Renwick, both were surprised and
pursued by the soldiers. In his flight he lost his shoe, which his
pursuers picked up, and seeing it to be very large, they concluded he
must be a very strong man whose foot filled it, and that it would be
dangerous for their small number to attack him, and thus both be and
Renwick escaped. One of the best of Renwick's letters is that called
forth by a letter which Gavin Wotherspoon had received from Robert
Langlands, who had separated from and maligned the societies.
Ren\vick answered the letter. In it occurs the often-quoted passage,
" I beg ye would not give ear to busy bodies and tale bearers, their
whispering in your ears. Such have had no small hand in widening
of our breaches. I wish they may have pardon of God for what they
have done. O that the Lord's elect were agreeing together in truth I

0 that all these that shall agree in heaven, were agreeing upon earth !

1 think if my blood could be a means to procure it, I could willingly
offer it up upon that account. But I speak as a fool." Gavin
Wotherspoon took a prominent part in the business of the societies
after the Revolution. His name occurs several times in their minutes
in MS. in possession of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod.

As is the case with several of the preceding testimonies in this
volume, John Main testifies against John Gib. The reason for this
was not anything worthy of notice in Gib or his followers, but the
assertions of the enemies of the persecuted Presbyterians that they
were identical in sentiment. Indeed, the publisher or editor of Sir
George Mackenzie's " Vindication" goes so far as to put Gib's state-

yohii Main. 329

ment of his views alongside of the Solemn League and Covenant, in
order, he says, to inform strangers of the seditious principles of the
Scots Presbyterians. Hence the sufferers felt themselves called upon
to repudiate the idea of their similarity, and the compilers of the
"Cloud" to give prominence to their repudiation. — Ed.]

>— •-♦-•-^

HE LAST TESTIMONY of John Main, who lived in
the parish of West Monkland, and suffered at the Cross
of Glasgow, March 19, 1684.

" It cannot be expected, everything considered, that
ye shall have such a testimony under my hand, as ye
have had from the hands of many that have gone
before me ; but seeing God in His infinite wisdom hath
seen it fit to bring me upon the stage for truth, I thought myself
bound and obliged in His sight, to testify before the world my close
adherence to His written Word, and what is conform thereto.

" And first, I testify my adherence to the Bible, the Old and New
Tesiaments, as the only and alone rule of faith and obedience. I
know it stands not in need of my approbation, but to let the world
know I die not as a fool, I think it my duty to assert my adherence
unto it, declaring, that I take it for my only rule, rejecting the tradi-
tions of men as not canonical.

"2. I testify my adherence to the Confession of Faith (saying
nothing to that fourth article of the twenty-third chapter, but only
that it is misconstructed, and made use of for another end than ever
the honest and faithful ministers of Christ had before them, when
they gave their approbation of the same), and Catechisms Larger and
Shorter, our Covenants National and Solemn League, Acknowledg-
ment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Sum and Practical Use
of Saving Knowledge.

"3. To the work of Reformation as it was reformed from Popery,
Prelacy, and Malignancy ; even to that work, as it is a direct opposi-
tion to every sin, and motive to every duty ; and particularly to the
remonstrances, protestations, and testimonies against the malignant
party and malignant actions, they being found out to be inconsistent
with and contrary to the written Word of God, and the sworn prin-

330 A Cloud of IVitnesscs.

ci[)les of the Church of Scotland, and being found to be hurtful to
Christian society, not only by the effects of them, but as to the nature
and quality of them, even simply considered in themselves, besides
the bad effects aggravating them in the sight of the truly godly, and
rightly zealous ministers and professors of this Church.

" 4. To the faithful preaching of the Gospel, upon moors and
mountains, and high places of the fields, and particularly the preach-
ing down the sins of the time, and up duty.

"5. I leave my testimony to the lifting arms for personal defence,
and for defence of the Gospel. For, seeing that other means were
failed, and an occasion offering for that, the law both of God and
nature does warrant and allow the same. I need not go to quote
Scripture for the probation of it, since the whole scope of it runs upon
this strain ; and also ye may read several places of Scripture, par-
ticularly and expressly allowing, yea, commanding the same, and
many imitable Scripture examples, where the people of God lifted
arms against kings ; as the people's resisting of Saul. I testify to the
lawfulness of that hostile defence at Pentland and Bothwell Bridge,
and several field-meetings, Avhere they were put to it by the violent
and bloody assaults of their enemies.

" 6. In a word (for I study brevity, being necessitate), to all the
faithful testimonies of the godly, given on scaffolds, and some other
testimonies given in hostile manner, viz., the testimony given at
Rutherglen, May 29, 1679, ^-ud the declaiations published at Lanark,
in the year 1680 and 1682. I disown and testify against the declara-
tion published at Hamilton, in the year 1679, particularly because it
takes in the interest of Charles Stuart ; for though he was once king,
he is now a tyrant, by his cutting the neck of the noble government
established in this land, and overturning the main and fundamental
conditions whereupon he was constituted \ and it is notour to all in
this kingdom, and I believe to part of our neighbour nations also,
that he carries on a course contrary to the word of God and light of
nature, and destructive to all Christian and human society ; yea, a
course that very heathens would abhor, even the thing itself, abstract
from its aggravations.

" I come now, in short (desiring ye may pardon escapes) to let
you know what I testify against.

" I. (And not to go further back) I leave my testimony against many
Ministers, for their leaving their master's work at the simple command
of usurpers, as if they had been only the servants of men \ and I

John AIai?i. 33 i

declare my disapprobation, yea, my testimony against the sinful
silence of ministers, after they had left their vineyard, where their
master had placed them to labour, and their not acknowledging
publicly their unfaithfulness ; for which (together with their other
grievous failings) the Lord is this day contending with them. I know
not what plagues are so sad as to be plagued by the hand of God,
by being laid aside from His work ; I say, their unfaithfulness in not
standing in the way of the people, when they were so generally drawn
away to hear curates. Mistake me not, thinking that I look upon
the people as innocent when I speak of the sins of the ministers ; for
I see it my duty to testify against both, and there will not one of
them excuse another. But remember, that the ministers must count
for the people who perish through their default.

" 2. Against the ministers, their tampering with that woeful and
hell-hatched Indulgence, and more particularly their accepting thereof.
I testify against the actual accepters of it, and against a woeful conniv-
ance in the non-accepters of the same ; whereas there ought to
have been an open testifying and protesting against it. I shall study
to say but little ; but I die in the faith of it, that God shall send a
clear discovery of matters, and these that have betrayed their trust,
and have not been as they should and ought to have been, shall see
and be ashamed ; but Lord grant that many may see the evil of their
doings in time, and may mourn for the same, or otherwise it will be
sad for them ; but every one shall see first or last. But remember
Esau, who found no place for repentance, though he sought it care-
fully with tears.

" 3. Against the ministers, their woeful yielding unto and joining
with the malignant party and interest at Bothwell Bridge, and their
woeful yielding unto the usurpation made upon the prerogatives royal
of our wronged Lord and prince Jesus Christ, by their acceptance of
liberty granted after Bothwell Bridge, and taking occasion to preach
in houses according to the liberty granted, refusing to preach
without doors, notwithstanding of the great necessity sometimes
requiring the same, and many of them refusing to preach when any
of the people stood without doors ; this was notourly known in the
time, and I think it be not yet forgot, and however it may be forgot
by us, yet I assure you, it is not forgot by a holy God. 1 testify
against their sinful silence, and not jeoparding their lives for their
wronged Lord and provoked Master, especially at the time when Mr
Richard Cameron and Mr Donald Cargill went to the fields. I

332 A Cloud of Witnesses.

testify against their condemning of these two worthies in discourse
and preaching, and also in their practice. In short, against every-
thing in ministers and professors contrary unto, or inconsistent with
the Presbyterian principles of the Church of Scotland.

" 4. I leave my testimony against Popery, Prelacy, and Eras-
tianism, and everything contrary to the word of God, and particularly
against Quakerism, Anabaptism, Independency, and all Sectarians
and whatsoever is not warranted by the holy Scriptures.

" 5. Against the imposing of that cursed Cess ; not that I call
cess-lifting in itself unlawful ; but that cess I call unlawful, which was
imposed by a corrupt convention of estates who met at Edinburgh, in
the year 1673. For some things that are in themselves lawful, are
sometimes so circumstantiated, as that they become unlawful ; as
sometimes the end of an action makes the action unlawful. I may
give the cess for an instance of this, for the end of imposing it (as
themselves declare) was mainly to bear down field-meetings, and other
innocent associations of the people of God, disdainfully and wickedly
called by them ' rendezvous of rebellion ' [in the Act against Conven-
ticles, 5th Act of Second Session of Second Parliament of Charles II.,
passed, Edinburgh, August 13, 1670. — Ed.], which meetings all Scot-
land was bound to maintain ; but they ought to have been in the
places constitute for worship, and would have been there had bonds
and engagements been conscientiously minded by all that were under
them. Oh ! let not this perfidious generation think that they are
loosed from the ties of these Covenants ; for as sure as God is in the
heavens He will make them know another thing, even that it was not
in their power to rescind these Covenants, and that by going about
so to do, they have brought much \vrath upon themselves and their
posterity after them, if they repent not. But oh ! do they not look
like a generation of His wrath ? And not to pass the bounds of
charity, I fear they will be the objects of His wrath ; and it will be a
dreadful day, see it who will, when the wicked shall be as stubble and
tow, and the wrath and vengeance of God shall seize upon them as
fire, and burn them up ; for they will not escape.

" 6. Against the payers of the Cess ; for it was a sad thing in a
people (that should have opposed all courses of that kind), instead of
opposing, to contribute to the carrying on of that very course that
they ought to have opposed. Oh! that they would consider, and lay
it to heart, and set themselves to redeem time— -misspent and abused
time '

Joh7i Maiji. 333

" 7. And against locality and fines' paying, seeing that it contri-
butes to the strengthening of the adversaries' hands. As for the
locality, we may easily see it to be sinful, since they (the enemies)
have imposed it for the maintenance of a party raised and kept up for
no other use (as their daily practice declares) but to harass, rob, and
spoil the poor people of God, for their close (Oh ! that it were closer)
adhering to their sworn principles, and to kill them for not denying of
these principles. And as for the paying of fines, it would be considered
that these fines are imposed upon people for their duty; and fines
imposed by right and justice ought always to be for transgression ;
neither can a fine be imposed by right, but for a transgression ; so
that by paying of these fines so imposed, we must be said either to
yield active obedience to an unjust course, which we ought always to
oppose, or we may be said to make ourselves transgressors, and these
duties (in which we ought to venture life and fortune) to be transgres-
sions. I say, one of these will consequently follow, if not both. But
alas ! those things that are grievously sinful many ways, are become
so habitual, that they are never noticed nor thought anything of, nor
will be, till God come in His power and great glory to disclose the
secrets of all hearts.

" 8. I leave my testimony against the people, their hearing of
curates, basely leaving the way of truth, and following a course dis-
honouring to God, and destructive to themselves. Also against the
joining with the indulged and unfaithful ministers, vindicating them-
selves thus, ' That it is good to hear the word,' not considering that
these ministers have so far gone out of the way of God, in their
accepting of that Indulgence, as that they ought to be testified
against, and when they go on obstinately in that crooked way, ought
to be withdrawn from. It may be, some will say, that this is ignorantly
reasoned ; but I fear, if they would search things narrowly by the
Spirit of God, they would find that God is not countenancing them
in it And also, that they ought to have given far other sort of testi-
mony against that course, than to have joined and gone along with
it, as far as their station would have required ; but now the obstinacy
of this generation is so great (and we have many sad evidences of
this) that I fear there will nothing convince them but the judgments
of God, which has made me the less careful to write anything (although
I could) that might, being from the hand of a dying man, be any
way convincing to them, but as it becomes one laying down his life for
his royal and princely Master Jesus Christ. I leave my testimony

334 A Cloud of Witnesses.

against joining with them; yea, against that which they call simple
hearing, and this I have done to exoner {i.e., free] my conscience in
the sight of a holy and jealous God, and do declare, that if mercy in
Christ prevent not (which will not be found but in mercy's gate, which
is ])elieving and repentance) they shall smart under the heavy wrath
of God for their complying with such crooked and God-provoking
courses. And I, as a man laying down my life for the interest of my
sweet Lord, do v/arn all and every one of them, who have joined with
these evil courses, to flee from the wrath to come, which will be on
this generation inevitably ; yea, I obtest you to flee from it, as ye
tender the glory of God and the good of your own souls. Oh !
flee from it by speedy repentance, and lay hold upon the blood
and righteousness of Jesus Christ for that eff"ect, and study to have
your names scraped out of the black catalogue of these soul-destroy-
ing despisers of that precious blood and righteousness, purchased
for that end to take away the sins of all that will come, and by
faith lay hold upon it, and to reconcile them to a provoked God.
God's wrath is burning against the children of disobedience, and
He has said, ' That such as turn aside to crooked ways, He will
lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.' And in another
place he says, ' If any man draw back, my soul shall have no plea-
sure in him.'

'' 9. I leave my testimony against the taking of that cursed Test,
and the takers thereof, and I declare it to be a horrid wickedness, a
God-disowning and a God-daring course.

" I o. Against compearing before their courts ; and I declare it to
be a thing inconsistent with a faithful testimony for truth at this time,
it being : Fhst, An owning of that authority, founded upon that
usurped Supremacy over the prerogative royal of our Lord, which
thing ought to be so far testified against, as not to own or answer to
any court fenced \i.e., opened] in the name of Charles Stuart, be-
cause he hath quite forefaulted \i.e., forfeited] his right to rule as
king. Second, It is a clear condemning of such as have suft'ered the
loss of means upon that account, and those who have laid down their
lives against the owning of that authority ; and let none think me
foolish in adjoining my testimony to the testimonies of these, nor in
my disowning of that authority.

"11. Against the lifting of militia, and the paying of militia-
money.

''12. I testify against the proceedings of that abominable wretch,

John Mam. 335

John Gib, and these testimonies writ by him in the name of others,
as being a thing prejudicial to the interests of our Lord.

" And, now, as to the articles of my indictment, they arc all of
them such things as cannot be made criminal.

"As to the first, viz., making my escape out of the Tolbooth, I
was doing it most innocently, doing hurt to no person, neither did I
ever hear that it was criminal.

" As to the second, viz., that I had confessed that 1 was at Both-
well Bridge, I see not how that can be made criminal, if I got but
the lash of their own law (if it be not abuse of language to call it
laAv), and no further ; for all that were on-lookers that day, could not
be said to be in the action.

"As to the third, viz., My conversing with Gavin Witherspoon*
since Bothwell ; whom they call a notorious rebel, but cannot prove
him so ; neither can they show me that law founded on the Word of
God, that makes conversing with him criminal. And since they
cannot upon sufficient grounds call him a rebel, what they say and do
without ground, I do not see myself obliged to answer it ; for that
rebellion which the law strikes against, is that which can be proven
rebellion against powers acting for God, and so, consequently, rebellion
against God ; and sure I am, while a man followeth his duty (for it is
merely for following his duty that they call him a rebel), he can
never be said to be in rebellion against God.

" As to the fourth article, that I refused to call Bothwell Bridge
rebellion, I would see the law that makes a man's silence, when
interrogated, criminal. And also, as to the thing itself, who knows
not that it was mere defence ? and who can make it out to be rebel-
lion against powers acting for God? For as is before said, this and
no other is the rebellion that the law of God and the law of our
nation strike against.

" And the fifth, viz., that I said the owning of the Covenants was
lawful. Who knows not that these Covenants were once approven
of as lawful, and solemnly sworn by the whole nation, and the Con-
fession of Faith taken, and swoi'n unto as fundamentals of our
religion ? And I deny (although by an Act of a pretended Parliament

* This was a very eminent and zealous sufferer, who being forfaulted of his
land and possession for adherence to the truth, suffered many hardships of perse-
cution, but was brought through without compliance, being steadfast in the way
of the Lord till his death, which was about two years since. — A't^/f by compilers of
" Cloud" in 1 7 14.

336 A Clond of Witnesses.

they may pretend to rescind the same) that it was in their power to
rescind or overturn such a constitution, until they had made the
unsoundness of it appear, and made it appear wherein another was
better, and till they had been in case to set up a better in the room
thereof. So that their so doing was not a walking according to the
will of God, but a walking according to the counsel of their own wills,
contrary to the Avill of God, for the satisfaction of their own base lusts,
and no ways showing themselves to be studying either the glory of
God or the good of His people, so that these Covenants remain
binding to this day, and I hope shall be when they are gone, who so
wickedly set themselves against them.

" As to the sixth article, that I would not answer if it was lawful,
yea or not, to obey Charles Stuart ? It is only silence, which no
reason nor law can make criminal. And as to my disowning his
authority (as they say) they had only my silence also, which can
never in law take away a man's life. As to my not asserting that the
death of the late king was murder, I find that they would have every
one saying and attesting what they say, and assert whether they know
it to be so or not. I leave my testimony, as a dying man, against all
such implicit walking, and especially I testify against any laying hold
implicitly upon the bare assertions or dictates of the enemies of God.
And as to the Prelate's death, I declare as a dying man, that I think
none can certainly judge that action, if it was a murder or not mur-
der. And who sees not what these enemies to God and His Son
Jesus Christ are driving at, when they would compel men to assert
things only for their pleasures, that no human understanding can
judge of, themselves who were the actors only excepted? And now
it is notour to all persons of any capacity, and who will but use the
light of nature, that there is no manner of just sentence passed
against, or put in execution upon us ; but tliat we are murdered only
for the satisfaction of men, who are worse than heathens.

" And now this my testimony I seal with my blood, dying in the
faith of the Protestant religion, adhering to the Presbyterian govern-
ment of the Church of Scotland, and witnessing against everything
that tends to the hurt thereof; exhorting every one who desires to be
found of God in love, to settle and fix here. And let none fear to
venture upon the cross of Christ, for I can say from experience (glory
be to Him for it) that he has borne the cross and me both, or other-
wise I could never have undergone it with so small difficulty. And
the great reason of many, their fainting under the cross, is their laying

John Main. 337

so little weight on Jesus Christ, and so much upon themselves, and
upon any bit of attainment they think themselves to have. Oh let
every one study that holy art of independency upon all things besides
Him, and depend only upon Himself.

" And now I bid farewell to the poor remnant of the Church of
Scotland, and I leave them to God, and in His good hand. I bid
farewell to friends and acquaintances. I bid farewell to my mother,
and commit her to God, who only can provide for her things neces-
sary both for soul and body. I bid farewell to my two sisters, and
commit them to God, who can be instead of all things to them, and
can soon make up the want of a brother to them, which want I think
may be easily borne as the time now goes. Farewell praying and
believing, reading and meditating. I bid farewell to all temporal
things, mercies and crosses. Welcome gallows for the interest of my
sweet Lord. Welcome heaven and everlasting glory. Welcome
spirits of just men made perfect. Welcome angels. Welcome Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands I commit my spirit.

"JOHN MAIN."

ITH this martyr suffered other four, viz., John Richmond,
Archibald Stewart, who lived in the parish of Lesmahagow,
James Winning, tailor, in Glasgow, James Johnston, in
North Cadder, all very zealous and judicious Christians. The heads
of their indictments are all the same with these of this martyr, and
their answers before their examinators have been very much to the
same effect, all of them freely and fully owning the Covenant, and
avouching it before their persecutors, and likewise the lawfulness of
defensive arms, for maintaining the faithfully preached Gospel, and
absolutely denying the king's ecclesiastic supremacy. Declining all
of them to answer to the impertinent questions concerning the
Bishop's death, and that of King Charles I., in regard they knew
not the circumstances of these facts, nor could make a judgment
upon them, and found themselves obliged in no law, divine or
human, to give their opinion about them ; and yet, upon this their
prudent silence, was their sentence founded and executed with great
rage, having scarce forty-eight hours allowed them before their exe-
cution.

As for the heads of truth, to which they leave their testimony,
and of defection and corruption, against which they leave it, they are
so near the same with these contained in the foregoing speech, that

338 A Clo2id of Witnesses.

it would be but superfluous to repeat them word for word as they
stand. Only some few expressions shall be here inserted out of them,
to show how cheerfully they underwent their sufferings.

To which purpose these words of John Richmond's are very
remarkable, ' Scar not at [/>., be not afraid of] the cross of Christ ;
for, oh, if ye knew what I have met with since I came to prison !
what love ! what matchless love from my sweet and lovely Lord ! ye
would long to be with Him, and would count it naught to go through
a sea of blood for Him.'

To the same effect see with what heavenly delight and com-
placency that stripling, Archibald Stewart, a youth of nineteen years,
accosts a violent death, while he saith, ' Now this is the sweetest and
joyfullest day that ever I had since I was born. My soul blesseth
the Lord that ever He made choice of me to suffer for His noble
cause and interest; that ever He set His love upon the like of me,
to give a faithful testimony for His controverted truths, who was born
an heir of hell and wrath ; but now He hath redeemed my soul
through His precious blood and suffering from the power of sin and
Satan, and hath made me overcome by the blood of the immaculate
Lamb of God.' And thereafter, ' I die not by constraint : I am
more willing to die for my lovely Lord Christ and His truths, than
ever I was to live. And my soul blesseth the Lord, that ever He did
accept of a testimony from the like of me. Scar not at \i.e., be not
afraid of] the way of Christ because of sufferings. If ye knew what
of His love I have got since I was honoured with imprisonment for
Him, and what sweet ingredients He hath put into my cup, ye would
not be afraid of suffering. He hath paved the cross all over with
love, and hath made all sweet and comfortable to me, and hath made
all my troubles flee away like the morning shadows. Oh ! I cannot
express His matchless love to me, neither can I make mention of
His goodness I Oh ! it is but little I can speak to the commenda-
tion of my lovely Lord and His cross."

At the same rate James Winning, having bewailed his being so
long a hearer of curates, subjoins with a sweet and ravishing turn :
" I bless the Lord, because of His goodness to me, who, notwith-
standing of all my compliance with enemies, hath not left me in that
woeful case, but hath brought me hither to witness for His opposed,
burdened, and ruined cause and glory. Oh ! I desire to bless Him
for it, and call in all the creation to help me. Oh ! the wonderful
power, riches, and goodness of the Lord ! Glory to His rich and ex-

yohii Riclmiond.

;39

cellent name, who hath discovered to me the need of a Redeemer,
who will wash me from my sins, and make me pure and spotless
before His throne in heaven."

James Johnston, among other heavenly expressions, hath these
concerning his lot of suffering, " For this I bless the Lord, for I couUl
never have ventured upon the cross, especially upon death itself,
unless that He had helped me to it."

They died all with a forgiving spirit, imitating their Lord and
Master, and His holy apostles, in praying for forgiveness to their per-
secutors, though withal assuring them that their blood would be
required at their hands, if they did not repent for what they had
done against the image of God in them.

John Richmond.

HE LAST TESTIMONY of John Richmond, who
lived in the parish of Galston, and suffered at the
V Cross of Glasgow, upon the 19th of March, 1684.

" Now I am brought here this day, to lay down my
life for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the hope of
_, Israel, which hope I am not ashamed of, and for

y owning that Christ is King, and Head of His own

Church, for which I do this day willingly lay down my life, and not
l)y constraint ; for if I would have acknowledged a mortal man to be
supreme, I might have redeemed my life — viz., Charles Stuart, to
be supreme over all causes, civil and ecclesiastical, which belongs
to no mortal man upon earth, but to our blessed Lord and Saviour, who
is given of the Father to be Head and King of His own Church, which
I prove by His own word : " And He is the Head of the body, the
Church" (Col. i. 18). "And hath put all things under His feet, and
gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church" (Eph. i. 22),

340 A Cloud of Witnesses.

And also the second Psalm. Now, I say, it is for the hope of Israel,
and as a witness of Jesus Christ; of whom I am not ashamed, but desire
with heart and soul to praise Him, and my soul shall praise Him through-
out the ages of eternity, and I desire to invite all the creation to praise
Him : for He has taken me as a brand plucked out of the fire, who
was an heir of hell and wrath, and I also confirmed that heirship to
myself, by my actual transgressions ; but now my sweet and lovely
Lord and Redeemer, through His blood and sufferings, has redeemed
me from the devil, the world, and the flesh, and has sealed to me by
His Spirit, bearing witness with my spirit, and confirming me by His
precious Word, which Word is truth, and the true Word of God, that
He has redeemed me, and I shall be clothed with His righteousness,
which is spotless and clean, and will make my soul as clean as if I
had never sinned.

" Now I shall give you a short hint, as the Lord shall assist me, of
my principles, what I am to adhere to ; and also, what I am clear to
disown and testify against, as a dying witness of Christ :

" I. I sweetly set to my seal to the Covenant of Free Grace, made
betwixt the Father and the Son before the foundation of the world,
for the redemption of poor, lost mankind ; I say, of those who are
elected, called and chosen, sanctified and justified, for which my
soul blesses the Lord, that ever I heard tell of the same, and of a
Redeemer.

" 2. I leave my testimony to the Sacred Word of God — viz., The
Old and New Testaments, that they are the true Word of God, and
that there is life everlasting to be had in perusing thereof, with the
whole desire of the soul, through a Redeemer ; and without perusing
and sincerely endeavouring to make it your rule of life and manners,
there is no life ; for our blessed Lord says, He came not to destroy
the law, but to fulfil it.

" 3. I leave my testimony to the work of Reformation, in all the
several steps thereof, as it was reformed from Popery, Prelacy, Eras-
tianism, and all other errors, not agreeable to the Word of God.

" 4. I leave my testimony to the Confession of Faith, the Sum of
Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship, the Catechisms Larger
and Shorter.

" 5. I leave my testimony to the Covenants, National and
Solemn League and Covenant, that these lands were engaged in to
the Lord ; which Scotland may bless the Lord for, that He brought
them in Covenant with Himself I say to you that desire to own the

yohn Richmond. 34 1

same, (I mean the poor wrestling remnant,) make it your ground to
plead with the Lord, that He may come back to these lands again.
And also, I leave my testimony to the Acknowledgment of Sins and
Engagement to Duties, and the Causes of God's Wrath.

" 6. I leave my testimony to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
faithfully preached by the faithful ambassadors called and commis-
sioned from Himself, in all faithfulness and boldness, in showing
Jacob his transgressions, and Israel his sin, both before Bothwell and
since ; but few found faithful since. It may be said of the most part
from that time forth, many went backward and walked no more with
Him ; their names may be written in veiy little bounds, that were
found faithful ; only these two I desire to record, Mr Donald Cargill
and Mr Richard Cameron, which I desire to set to my seal, to the
faithfulness of these two men's doctrine, and all their procedure in the
work they were called in, and my soul blesses the Lord that ever I
heard them preach.

"7. I leave my testimony to all appearances in arms for the
defence of the Gospel, both before Bothwell and since ; and also my
testimony to the carrying of arms for self-defence, and the defence of
my brethren.

" 8. I leave my testimony to the Excommunication at the Tor-
wood, drawn out by Mr Donald Cargill.

" 9. I leave my testimony to the testimony given at Rutherglen,
upon the 29th day of May, the year 1679.

"10. I leave my testimony to the declaration given at Sanquhar,
upon June 22, 1680.

"11. I leave my testimony to the testimony given at Lanark, the
12th of January 1682, by a party who was stirred up by the Lord to
witness faithfully for Him against the bloody acts and laws of men,
and especially the dreadful snare, the land-destroying, the soul-ruining
thing called the Test.

"12. I leave my testimony against that declaration drawn at
Hamilton, by a party of men, who loved the praise of men, and the
interest of men, more than the interest of our Lord and King,
who will not give His glory and honour to any mortal man upon
earth, because it took in the tyrant's interest, and was carried on by
them over the belly of a poor faithful remnant that was amongst
them ; but if God be God, serve Him ; and if Baal be God, serve
him.

" 13. I leave my testimony to the eight articles called the New

342 ^1 Cloud of Witnesses.

Covenant, drawn l)y Mr Donald Cargill, and which was taken off
worthy Henry Hall at the Queensferry.

"14. I leave my testimony to the fellowship and meetings of the
Lord's people, for reading and singing of Psalms, and praying to the
Lord, and wrestling for the poor Church, and other duties incumbent
to them in their place and station, and to all their proceedings for
the keeping up the remembrance of Israel. Go on, and slack not
your hands, seeing it is so warrantably by your Master's royal word,
viz., Mai. iii., and many more. For my soul blesses the Lord that
ever He counted me worthy to be in among the fellowship meet-
ing of His people. I say, slack not your hands, for the Lord has
accepted of your endeavours in keeping up the remembrance of
Israel, making way to get poor young infants brought within His
visible Church, which the Lord made me a sharer of, and an
offering of Himself to poor treacherous Scotland, if they will embrace
Him.

"15. I heartily, with all my heart and soul, leave my testimony
to all the faithful testimonies of the Cloud of Witnesses, that has
been martyred for Christ and His truths.

" Now, I desire, before I quit the list of these that I have owned,
here through grace to lay down my life, and the list of them is of
more value than many lives.

" Now, I shall give a short hint, as the Lord shall assist, what I
disown, that is done of men, against the Majesty of heaven.

" I. I leave my testimony against Popery and Prelacy, and
Erasiian Supremacy, and all that hierarchy.

" 2. I leave my testimony against Quakerism, Independency, Ana-
baptism, and all other erroneous sects, that are contrary to the Word
of God.

" 3. I leave my testimony against that tyrant upon the throne of
Britain, and his present authority, for his breach of the Covenants ;
the Covenants being the coronation oath, that he got the crown upon ;
ami for his overturning the whole work of God in the land, by taking
upon him to be supreme over Christ's Church, and to rule the law, and
not the law to rule him, and for burning these Covenants, and for
putting the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ out of the land, and for
killing, plundering, of the Lord's people in the fields, on scaffolds,
drowning in the sea, banishing, plundering, oppressing, both in body
and conscience.

" 4. I leave my testimony against all the upholders of that tyrant,

yoJm Richmond. 34-

directly by aiding, assisting, or pleading for him, or for his interest ;
for he has openly and avowedly seated himself against King Christ ;
and these that plead for him, who have taken the crown off our
blessed Lord's head • I say, they will be found pleading against
Christ : 'When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him,
and hast been partaker with the adulterers ' (Ps. 1. 18).

"5. I leave my testimony against the Oath of Supremacy.

" 6. I leave my testimony against that Bond that was taken iii the
Greyfriars' Churchyard.

" 7. I leave my testimony against that bond called the Bond of
Regulation, and against that bond and engagement to keep the kirk,
as they call it ; which is a binding to keep a place, put in it what they
like, and it were even Popery the next day ; and I warn you of it,
that you shall have it ere long, except the Lord wonderfully prevent
it ; I say, it is a binding to the kirk, and not a following of our
Lord Jesus Christ : ' For where is the house ye build to me? saith
the Lord.'

" 8. I leave my testimony against that Bond, pressed by the High-
land host on the west country.

" 9. I leave my testimony against that dreadful, abominable thing
called the Test.

"10. I leave my testimony against all coming out of prison upon
bond and caution, being a shifting of the cross of Christ, and making
themselves the prisoners of men, and not the prisoners of Christ, and
yielding unto men, while we are called to another thing, as it is said
in the sixth of Romans, verse 16th, 'To whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are.'

"11. I leave my testimony against all compearances at their
courts, because they are unjust judges, and have forfeited their right ;
and their judgment and sentence is contrary to the Word of God, and
is stated for the ruin of the Church of God, and for oppressing the
consciences of men, to sin against God.

"12. I leave my testimony against all cess and locality, for the
maintaining of the enemies of God, to kill and murder God's people,
and bear down the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : ' But ye are
they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that pre-
pare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink-offering unto
that number' (Isa. Ixv. 11).

"13. I leave my testimony against hearing of curates, because
they are the ministers of men ; yea, I may say, rather of Satan, for

344 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

the flourishing of his kingdom ; for they are thieves and robbers, and
not the true ministers of Christ, for they are not entered by Him, and
are set there for the maintaining of damnable heresy — viz., they
preach another head of the Church than our blessed Lord Jesus
Christ.

"14. I leave my testimony against all Indulgences, first and last,
because they have rent the bowels of Christ's Church, by exercising
their power and liberty under that Supremacy, yea, and exercising
the very function of their ministry by the directions of men, by receiv-
ing their instructions from men ; and so are no more the ministers
of God, but the ministers of men ; and there is this black effect
that has followed, and been the fruit of their ministry and preaching,
that never one according to my knowledge, that was indulged in
their judgment, that wan \i.e., got], the length of a scaffold for the
cause of Christ, but did yield and go on with the abominations of
the times.

"15. I leave my testimony against these ministers, who once
appeared fair, and went a good length in bearing up the standard
and banner of our blessed Lord ; but when the persecution rose
somewliat hot, then biding [/.<?, remaining] by Christ and declaring
of His message became out of season to them ; they quitted the
Lord's commission and precept by Paul to preach the Word in
season and out of season, and so soon as ever they saw the wolf
coming, they ran and hid themselves, and suffered the poor sheep of
Christ to be scattered, torn, and destroyed, both in body and con-
science. This I dare assert, they cannot say with Paul, that they are
free from the blood of all men, and have declared the whole counsel
of God.

" Now, as I said before, T am to lay down my life this day, for
the defence of the Gospel at Drumclog, and for the defence of the
Gospel at Hamilton, and for hearing of Mr John King preach upon
the Greenhill End, being the east end of Galston Moor, and for being
in company with John Nisbet ; and of all the four articles, I am not
ashamed this day ; these counted criminal by the enemies of my
Lord, whose Gospel-standard I desire to defend with life and fortune.
I say, these being counted criminal, witness being led, proved the
same, and witnessed me to death. If these had been enemies, I
could have borne it ; but it was they, mine acquaintance, mine
equal, my guide, and we took sweet counsel together, and went into
the House of God together (Psalm Iv. 12-14). So it was these that

John Richmond. 345

went a good length, and were also as deeply engaged as I was, yea,
to defend my life, and not to have witnessed me to death ; for what
they have witnessed, I am not ashamed of ; but this I leave behind
me, my testimony against them ; and my blood will be charged home
upon them, and, without repentance prevent it, both upon them and
their posterity ; and 1 set down their names, that they may stand on
record, and their names be known to aftercoming generations, their
names being these — John Loudon in Mill of New Milns, John Pater-
son in Slacks, John Fram in Tonslen, James Connel in Bankherd.*
I set them down here, that their names may be a stink and ill-
savour to aftercoming generations, as apostate from the way of God,
Demas-like, have forsaken the way of God, and chosen a present
world ; and now have not holden them there, but have become fol-
lowers of the people of God to the death, by their engagement and
oaths to the enemies, taking that hell-hatched thing called the Test.

" Now, as I leave my testimony to the truth of God in part, so I
have left my testimony against some of the prevailing sins of the
times ; and as I this day desire, with heart and soul, to adhere to all
the truths of God, named and not named, so I also desire with my
whole soul to disown, detest, and abhor, and loathe all manner of
sin and defection, public and private ; and I also leave my testimony
against and disown all profanation and loose living, and vain speeches
that are not for the use of edifying ; and also against lukewarniness,
and lying by as at ease in Zion, when she is in trouble now, when
she is tossed upon the turbulent sea of affliction.

" But to you that desire to have your portion and stock in
that ship, I desire to leave this word of comfort, that the Master
shall awake and rebuke the storm, and make it calm, that such a
calmness has not been yet. Look Isa. xliv. from the beginning
to the 9th verse, and assure yourselves, that His faithfulness will not
fail, nor His promise come to nought ; for this day I set to my seal
to the faithfulness of His promises to poor me, and what concerned

* N.B. — That the above-mentioned John Loudon became poor, and his pos-
terity are now reduced to beggary, notwithstanding they had of heritage six oi
seven thousand merks' worth. John Paterson died at Edinburgh of the French-
pox. John Fram was broke, and fled to Ireland, and, as it is commonly reported,
he was hanged there for stealing of horse. James Connel became miserable, and
his posterity are in want. They were in fellowship with John Richmond, and
were equally guilty with him in everything for which he was condemned ; but
their falling from the truth, the enemy made use of them to witness him to death.
— Note by the editor of the third edition of the " Cloud,'" in 1730.

346 A Cloud of Witnesses.

my salvation ; and oh ! how much shall He not own His own inheri-
tance, and His poor Church, which is given Him of the Father, to be
King thereof! and will He give that which He hath purchased by
His own blood and sufferings to the hands of man ? No ; Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but one jot, or one titde shall not pass, till
all be fulfilled. Although that men be this day employing their
power and strength for the down bearing of the Church of God, yet
all that burden themselves with her shall be dashed in pieces, and
the snares and gins they have laid for the poor people of God, they
shall be taken therein themselves ; and although the whole generality,
yea, all except a poor and contemptible and afflicted remnant, be
joined hand in hand, to uphold the tyrannical power of a man, yet
they and all that is against King Christ, shall be brought to ruin.
'Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished'
(Prov. xi. 21). And as for that abominable race and family, I mean
the tyrant upon the throne of Britain, that race and that family shall
fall under that command given from the Lord to Jeremiah, chap,
xxii. beginning at the 25th verse to the close, but especially the last
verse, ' Thus saith the Lord, Wri e ye this man childless, a man that
shall not prosper in his days : for no man of his seed shall prosper
sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.'

" And now, my dear friends — I mean the poor wrestling remnant,
or any who shall follow die footsteps of them hereafter — scar not at
[i.e., be not afraid of] the cross of Christ, though that the afflictions
and bondage of His poor people shall be lengthened out ; for I say,
yet again the Lord shall come and shall not tarry, to make good His
promise, for the relief of His poor Church ; ' for the Lord is not
slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is
long-suffering,' waiting for the outcoming of His people, and separat-
ing them from the people of these abominations ; and not only
public abominations, but His people must be separate from every
heart-idol and every private sin, walking as in the sight of a Holy
God, in all holy conversation, as the sons and daughters of the
Living God. And also be encouraged to wait upon Him till He
finish His own work ; look that of Micah, vii. 8th and 9th verses,
' Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy ; when I fall 1 shall arise ;
when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will
bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him,
until He plead my cause, and execute judgment for me ; He will
brmg me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness.'

Jolm Richmond. 347

So the poor Church comforts herself under all the indignation and
correction she was under, that the Lord would plead her cause, and
execute judgment for her ; and then in the 13th verse, ' Notwithstand-
ing the land shall be desolate, because of them that dwell therein, for
the fruit of their doings.' Therefore, my dear friends, wait upon the
Lord, weary not until He works His own work ; for it is very likely
that this land must be laid desolate, before He comfort His people,
and restore His church to her wonted privileges; yea, and I say,
as a dying witness of Christ, that God's judgments shall be poured
out upon Scotland till it be laid desolate. My dear friends, hold fast
till He come, and be upon your watch-tower, and have oil in your
lamps, that your light may be shining, and your lamps burning, for
the bridegroom will come in an hour when ye are not aware, and
in a w-ay that ye are not looking for. Now I shall say no more upon
this head.

" Now I leave my testimony against these called our judges, and
against these assizers, both these that sat upon my brethren, and
upon myself; my blood and my brethren's blood shall be required at
their hands ; and my blood shall be charged upon John Balfour, who
took me, for he declared to me that he knew me by my garb, that I
was one of the persecuted men, and so it was the ground he appre-
hended me upon, because I was a sufferer for the name of Christ.
Now, as I am of myself, I can freely forgive them and all others, for
what they have done to me, and do freely forgive them : but as they
have done it against the image of God in me, and in despite against
the work, cause, and interest of Jesus Christ, that is not mine to
forgive ; I leave that to Himself

" And now, dear friends, I having little time, my sentence being
passed upon the 17th day of March, at eight o'clock at night, to die
the 19th day of the same, at two in the afternoon , and now this day
I am to suffer martyrdom, and my head to be stricken off and to be
fixed upon the Tolbooth, for the name of Jesus. Now, scar
not at [/>., be not afraid of] the cross of Christ, for oh ! if ye knew
what I have met with since I came to prison, what love, what match-
less love, from my sweet and lovely Lord, ye would long to be with
Him, and ye would count it naught to go through a sea of blood for
Him. Oh, I invite you, dear friends, to stick to the truths of God,
and bide by Him, that the name of Israel may not be rooted out ;
but this I desire to live and to die in the faith of, that the blood
shed and spilt in Scotland shall have a glorious crop and vintage.

J48

A Cloud of Witnesses.

" And now, as for the generality of this generation, or these back-
slidden and backsliding professors, I know not what to say of them,
l)ut this is the language to me of their way, and I leave it as a dying
witness for Christ, that these let, and will let, till they be taken out
of the way.

" Now I leave my wife and my baby unto Him who gave them
unto me ; 1 fully quit with them, and leave them to my Lord and
Master, who can make us meet above the clouds. Now I take my
farewell of you, and all created comforts, and I am also willing, and
more willing ten thousand times to lay them down at His call, than
ever I was to enjoy them. Now, farewell all friends in Christ.
Farewell all relations. Farewell days and nights. Farewell sun,
moon, and stars. Farewell suffering. Farewell irons on feet and
hands. Farewell holy and sweet Scripture, which was the savour of
life unto life to me. And welcome heaven and eternal life. Wel-
come the company and souls of just men made perfect through the
blood of the Lamb. Welcome, welcome, and never enough welcomed
my lo\^ly Lord, my Father, and my Redeemer, and the Holy Ghost,
into whose hands I commit my spirit, for it is thine,
" Sic subscribitur,

"JOHN RICHMOND."

Archibald Stewart.

HE COPY of a LETTER written by Archibald
Stewart, who suffered martyrdom at the Cross of
Glasgow, March 19, 1684. To his Christian Acquaint-
ance.

" MV DEAR AND LOVING FrIRND AND ACQUAINT-
ANCE,— You and I must take good night of one
another for a while ; but I hope it shall not be long ;
for you know that this time that we have upon earth, lasts but for a

Archibald Stewart. 349

moment ; and we are but as a flower that grows up in the night, and is
cut down in the morning, hke the shadow that flees away, and is no
more seen upon earth again ; even like Jonah's gourd, that grew up
in a night and perished in a night. Now you and I must part, and
take good-night, you of me, and I of you, as wilHngly, and with as
great satisfaction, contentment, and submission to our lovely Lord's
will, — I say, with as great submission to the will of our God, as if we
were going to our sweet and comfortable fellowship meetings, where
our souls many times have been refreshed with the fresh gales of the
Spirit of our God, which indeed was the life of our meetings ; for
had it not been the love that we bare to God, and His way, He
would never have made our meetings so sweet to us ; so that the
longer that we continued, and the oftener that we met, the Lord
made more of Himself known to us, in giving us new confirmations of
His love, and tokens of His kindness.

" Now, my loving friend, I am going to my Father's house to reap
the fruit of all these waking nights that you and I had together, when
none knew of it but ourselves and our heavenly Father. And I die
in the hope of it, we shall come to your Father, and my Father, to
your God and my God (John xx. 17), to your Redeemer and my
Redeemer, to reap the fruit of all these meetings we had together.
Oh ! but that will be a joyful harvest time ! I am now going to reap
the fruit of all my reading, praying, singing, conversing, and meditat-
ing, and the fruits of all my trouble, toil, and labour. Instead of
bitterness, I will enjoy sweetness ; instead of trouble, rest ; instead
of sorrow and grief, joy and gladness : ' For sighing and sorrow shall
flee away.' 1 am going to reap the fruit of my wounds, and all the
reproaches that they have cast upon me ; I am going to reap the
fruit of all my sighs and groans, especially these since I came to
prison, where I have had very many of them. I am going to reap
the fruit of my fetters, irons and imprisonment for my lovely Lord
and Master Jesus Christ ; and I am going to reap the fruit of my
unjust indictment and unjust sentence. Oh 1 but the fruits of these
forementioned things will be a weighty crown of glory within a little
time upon my head, up at my Father's throne, when I shall go no
more out, and come no more in, having the name of my God written
upon my forehead, and the song of Moses and the Lamb put in my
mouth, to sing praises through all the ages of eternity !

" Now, dear friend, I cannot get Him praised, for the riches of
His free grace, freely bestowed on me. Oh ! I cannot get Him

35'^ -^ Cloud of Witnesses.

praised for bringing my soul out of the pit of destruction, and for
reclaiming my soul from the gates of hell. Oh ! my soul and heart,
and all that is within me, praise the Lord for His wonderful love to
me ! and also, my soul invites all the works of creation to praise
Him for what He hath done to my soul ; for now I can say with
David, from my own experience, ' Come and hear, all ye that fear
God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.' And like-
wise I can say with David, ' The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant
places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage ' (Ps. xvi. 6). And more than
all that, He hath said to my soul, that He will quarrel no more with
me for sin, for my God hath said to me, ' But now, thus saith the
Lord that created theej O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel,
fear not : for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ;
thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with
thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when
thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall
the flame kindle upon thee (Isa. xliii. 1,2). And ' Son, be of good
cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee ' (Matt. ix. 2). Now all is sure and
well with me ; I am brought near unto God, through the blood of
His Son Jesus Christ; and I have no more to do, but to lay down
this life of mine, that He hath given me, and take up house and
habitation with my lovely Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who pur-
chased life and salvation to me by the price of His own blood and
sufferings. Oh I but I have gotten an easy cast of it. Oh I but I
am come well and easy to my purpose of redemption, peace, and
happiness. But oh ! I cannot get Him glorified, and I will never
get Him enough glorified, as long as my soul liveth ; and I shall live
as long as He liveth, and that is life without end.

" Now, my dear and loving friend, it is but little advice that I
can leave to you, how to order your life and conversation ; yet I
shall leave you my last advice, as the Lord shall help me. As God
hath once made you to accept of Him upon His own terms and
way, hold fast by Him, and claim a right to Him, from His own
promises, and former loving kindness, wherein He hath manifested
Himself to you. And although you be made many times to think
that He hath left you, when you are casten down and under desertion,
yet claim a right to Him ; though you have destroyed yourself, threep
[?>., pertinaciously aflirm] kindness upon Him, and resolve with
Job, that though He should slay you, yet you will trust in Him.
For you must not want your down- castings and desertions; for

ArcJiibald Stewart. 351

all these things are given you, for the trial of your faith. And
you may know something of this from experience, that we cannot
guide our Lord's presence, when we get it ; we are so lifted up,
that He must cast us down again ; for our old bottles cannot
beat with the new wine of heaven ; none of us can be free of deser-
tion ; for as long as we live in this earth, we are often under an
Egyptian cloud of darkness.

" Spend much of your time in prayer and meditation, for I think,
that in these is the life of religion ; and spend time in Christian con-
verse with any of your own judgment, and private prayer, as you and
I did, when we were together ; and if you can get none, do your own
part, and the Lord will make up all your loss, for He hath engaged
to make up all your wants. Now, double your diligence, and make
ready for the trial, for you will not get it shifted, if you continue faith-
ful to the end. I am not saying that the trial will take away your
life ; but I am persuaded you will come through difficulties, if the
Lord see fit to spare you to see the glorious days that shall be seen
in Scotland again, and to reap of the fruit of it. This will be a high
honour, for they will be a happy people, that will be the remnant of
the Church.

" Now, dear friend, hold fast, and let no man take your crown,
for it is ready at the end of your race ; run, and never halt, nor look
back till you obtain the prize. I have gotten the first start of you
a httle ; but, I hope, you will follow me, before it be long ; and we
shall meet again ; and oh ! what a joyful meeting shall it be. Study
deniedness to your life, and die daily, that death may not sur-
prise you.

" But I must forbear, my time is so short, that I cannot get all
said here, that 1 have to say ; but what is wanting, Himself make
it up to you. Now, I take my leave of you for a little time, hoping
to meet again up above in our Father's house. I pray that God's
eternal blessing may rest upon you, and wish you even as my own
soul. Farewell in the Lord. Your dear and loving Christian friend,
brother, and soul's well-wisher.

"ARCHIBALD STEWART.

" Glasgow Tolbooth, March 15th, 1684."

Captain John Paton.

OHN PATON was born in the parish of Fenwick, at
Meadowhead, a farm-house, about a mile and-a-half to the
east of the small village of Waterside. The present farm-
house of Meadowhead has been built within the century, with the
exception of its west end, which is said to be part of that in which
Paton lived. Behind the house is a barn, of some size, the gables of
which are of dried mud, cased with stones, and overcast with a coat-
ing of lime. Within these gables, the tradition is, that Richard
Cameron, sometime early in 1681, baptized twenty-two children.

In his younger days, Paton followed the usual outdoor occupation
of the inhabitants of his native parish ; but when he reached man-
hood, he left farming for a soldier's life. John Howie says, of the
way and manner in which he went first to a military life, that there are
various accounts, — one is, that he served under Gustavus Adolphus ;
and the other, that he was at the battle of Marston Moor. But both
accounts are reconcileable with each other, for the battle of Lutzen,
fatal to the Swedish king, yet triumphant to the Protestant cause he
sought to advance, was fought November 6th, 1632, while Marston
Moor was not till July 2, 1644.

Scotland seems, in the early part of the seventeenth century, to
have been much in the condition of Ireland in later times, — it e.x-
perienced the distress arising from a superabundant i)opulation.
England, although by the accession of James brought under the
same crown, was not a very friendly country, and so Scotsmen went
in large numbers to the Continent. The General Assembly, Sept.
1; 1647, sent a pastoral letter " unto the Scots merchants, and others
our country people, scattered in Poland, Swedland, Denmark, and
Hungary," and it refers to their numbers "as many thousands of our
countrymen, who are scattered abroad." These merchants were
mostly what in modern phrase would be called packmen, and
travelled over the Continent, and, in an age when towns were few,

Captain John Paton. 353

and when in towns shops were far from being regularly open, gave
the inhabitants an opportunity of buying articles of luxury or domestic
use. With many, however, the occupation of a soldier was more
popular than that of a travelling merchant. Hence .Scotsmen were
found in all the armies of Europe. Sometimes they discovered them-
selves fighting against each other, and when a detachment would be
scaling a breach, it is said, it was not unusual to hear some of the
defenders address them in their own tongue, " come on, gentlemen !
this is not like gallanting it at the Cross of Edinburgh."

When Gustavus Adolphu.s, as the champion of Protestantism,
declared war in 1630 against Austria, he had quite an army of Scots-
men under him. His Scotch brigade was so large, that its superior
officers amounted to 34 colonels, and 50 lieutenant-colonels. One of
the most curious and most interesting folios of that age, is Colonel
Robert Munro's expedition with the worthy Scots regiment, called
Mackay's Regiment, . . . discharged in several duties and observa-
tions of service, first, under the magnanimous King of Denmark,
during his wars against the empire, afterwards under the invincible
King of Sweden, during his majesty's lifetime, etc. At Lutzen, the
reserve of Gustavus was commanded by a Scotsman named Hender-
son, and the Scotch regiments, by their adoption of platoon firing, are
said to have contributed largely to achieve the victory that did so
much for the liberties of Protestant Europe.

Whether Paton was at Lutzen we are not told, but " it was for some
heroic achievment," says John Howie, " at the taking of a certain city,
probably by Gustavus Adolphus, that he was advanced to a captain's
post." What age he was when he went abroad is not recorded,
further than that, " when he returned home, he was so far changed,
that his parents scarcely knew him," which may be taken to signify
that he went away a lad of eighteen or nineteen, and came back a
bearded and bronzed soldier, of six or eight and twenty.

It is not said when Captain Paton returned from Germany, but he
joined the army which the Scots sent to the aid of the English Parlia-
mentary forces, and was present at the battle of Marston Moor, July
1644, when the combined Scots and Parliamentary troops gained the
victory, which both gave a fatal blow to the royal cause, and laid the
foundation of Oliver Cromwell's future greatness. After Marston
Moor, he must soon have returned home, for he was called out, with
the militia of his native parish, to resist the raid made by Montrose
in favour of the king, and was present at the battle of Kilsyth,

354 ^ Clo7id of Witnesses.

August 15. 1645. Here the daring purpose and quick execution of
Montrose carried the day, and the army of the Covenanters was totally
defeated. Wishart, Montrose's chaplain, a divine evidently of the
school of Baron Munchausen, affirms that the Covenanters lost from
4000 to 5000, while the loss of his master was no more than six men.
But the statement carries with it its own refutation, for it is impossible
that four or five thousand of the vanquished can have been slain, with
a loss of six only to the victor. In the rout that followed the defeat,
Captain Paton with difficulty escaped. John Howie tells the follow-
ing story of what he and two associates did in the retreat :

"The Captain, as soon as he got free of the bog, into which the
Covenanters had been driven, with sword in hand, made the best of
his way through the enemy, till he got safe to the two Colonels, Hacket
and Strahan, who all three rode off together, but had not gone far till
they were encountered by about fifteen of the enemy, all of whom
they killed except two who escaped. When they liad gone a little
further, they were again attacked by about thirteen more, and of these
they killed ten, so that only three of them could make their escape.
But, upon the approach of about eleven Highlanders more, one of the
colonels said, in a familiar dialect, 'Johnny, if thou dost not some-
what now, we are all dead men.' To whom the captain answered,
' Fear not, for w^e will do what we can before we either yield or flee
before them.' They killed nine of them, and put the rest to flight."

This is plainly a soldier's story, much the better of the excitement
that three hand-to-hand conflicts might well cause. But it is much
more likely to be true than Wishart's fiction ; especially if we remem
ber what a weapon a sword in the hands of a soldier, skilled to use it,
becomes, when his antagonists are of the character of Montrose's
army, accustomed more to a whoop, a halloo, and a dash, than to
fight in a regular manner.

Howie tells a similar story of his doings, when some soldiers of
the Duke of Hamilton's army, under the command of Middleton,
attacked a considerable party of the Covenanters at Mauchline, where
they had been celebrating the communion. Paton and his friends
from Fenwick, who, at his advice, had taken arms with them, made
a spirited resistance. The captain himself killed eighteen with his
own hand. In the unhappy dispute, which ended in the Covenanters
breaking up into two parties. Captain Paton took the side of the
Protestors. He was present at the batUe of Worcester, September 3,
1651, where he fought for King Charles II. with his usual ardour;

Captam yohn Paton. 355

but the genius of Cromwell carried the day, and soon ended the war.
Paton returned home to Scotland, and resumed the pursuits of his
youth, by taking the farm of Meadowhead, and soon after married
Janet Lindsay, but she died in a few months.

At Meadowhead, Paton continued to reside for the rest of his
days. He sat under the ministry of William Guthrie, the well-known
author of the " Christian's Great Interest," and was chosen to be one
of his elders.

When, in 1666, the Covenanters of Galloway, fired by the msolent
oppressions of Sir James Turner, took up arms in self-defence, and
invited their friends to join them. Captain Paton could not resist the
invitation. He was called to command " a party of horse from
Loudon, Fenwick, and other places." In the ill-judged march to the
neighbourhood of Edinburgh, he had the charge of the rear-guard.
He was at Pentland, and was among the last to quit the field, when
the overwhelming numbers of the royal forces made defence no
longer possible. In his retreat he was overtaken by Dalziel himself,
who knew him, and thought to have taken him prisoner. Each
fired at the other \ Paton's ball struck Dalziel, but without effect, for
according to the practice of superior officers in that age, he wore
chain armour ; and, when Paton proceeded to load the other pistol
with silver, said to be more effective than lead in piercing steel, and
which he had with him for an emergency, Dalziel retreated behind
his attendant, who was slain. Paton and two other friends from
Fenwick on horseback, were soon surrounded by Dalziel's soldiery,
but they cut their way through, when there were almost no others
fighting on their own side save themselves, and after they had kej)!
their position for nearly an hour.

How much was secured by the continued resistance of such as Paton,
and by the dispositions of the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel
James Wallace, Mr Dodds has been able to show from researches in
the State Paper Office in his valuable volume, " The Fifty Years
Struggle of the Scottish Covenanters." The great body of the Coven-
anters, very different from what happened in 1679 at Bothwell Bridge,
escaped under the covert of night among the hills in their rear.

General Dalziel did not suffer Captain Paton to escape without
at least another attempt to capture him. He sent three of his
troopers in pursuit, after he had given them a description so as to
recognise him. They overtook him, when he was about to leap a
ditch, and out of which three terrified Galloway friends had just drawn

356 A Clotid of Witnesses.

their horses. The captain, after encouraging his friends, cleared the
(Htch, and tacecl about, sword in hand, to receive his pursuers. The
head of the tirst he cut in two with a single stroke of his sword. The
trooper's horse, deprived of its rider, and stunned by the blow, fell
into the ditch or hag, and in its fall, drew in the two others along
with it, where Paton left them, with the message — " My compliments
to your master, and tell him I shall not be with hirn to-night."
I'aton got safely back to Meadowhead ; but he had become a
marked man, and henceforward he had many a time to betake
himself for safety to the wild moors in his neighbourhood. The
winter following Pentland, he and twenty more had a narrow-
escape at Lochgoin, where they had gathered for prayer and pious
conversation.

He was not with the brave compan}' at Drumclog, but he soon
after joined them with a number of horsemen from Fenwick and
Galston, and was present at the fatal defeat at Bothwell Bridge. It
is not said what part he took in the batde, but his presence there led
to his being proclaimed a rebel, and to a sum being set upon his head.

Not long after Bothwell Bridge, he had another narrow escape at
Lochgoin, the circumstances of vvhich John Howie details at length.
Although the soldiers surprised him in the house, he managed to
escape. Two friends ran with him, and two others -less quickly
behind him, and now and then fired upon the enemy. One of the
shots took eff'ect, and wounded a sergeant in the thigh. This delayed
the pursuit, and Paton and his four friends separated — they going
together to attract the soldiers, and he by himself He soon got
hold of a horse in the moor, but he had scarcely mounted, when
he came upon a party of dragoons, for Newmilns. However, as he
was shoeless, the horse saddleless, and riding slowly, he escaped
unobserved.

This second series of escapes was soon followed by a third. One
of his children died. The time when it was to be buried came to the
knowledge of the hireling of government, who drew the stipend of
the parish, and he sent word to the soldiers stationed at Kilmarnock
to come and seize liini in the churchyard. Paton followed the corpse
to the burial, but, wlien near the churchyard, he was persuaded by
some friends to turn back, and thus he escaped.

But Captain Paton was now an old man, and the vicissitudes of
a soldier's life, the efforts he had made to advance the good cause,
as well as the privations he had suffered through persecution, had

Captain Johi Paton. 357

added to his age. Hence, when his enemies at last came upon him,
he was easily taken. In the beginning of August 1683, he was in
the house of Robert Howie, in Floack, in the parish of Mearns, a
house alongside of which now nms the new road from Kilmarnock
to Glasgow, when a party of five soldiers claimed him as their
prisoner. Contrary to his usual practice, he had no arms, but the
inmates of the house offered him assistance — had it been ten )'ears
earlier, he had been able for the soldiers single-handed — but he
declined their aid. He feared that it would bring them into trouble,
and he was now well stricken in years, and worn out with fleeing
from place to place ; and moreover, he added, he was not afraid to
die, for of his interest in Christ he was sure.

The soldiers, therefore, made an easy capture. They took him to
Kilmarnock, under the supposition that he was some aged minister,
for the inmates of Floack had not yet disclosed his name ; but on the
way, at a place still shown, called Moor Yett, a farmer, standing at
his door, cried out — " Dear me. Captain Paton, are you there !" and
thus the soldiers first learned the value of the prize they had taken.
From Kilmarnock he was conveyed to Ayr, and from Ayr to Glas-
gow, and thence to Edinburgh.

Here, John Howie relates. General Dalziel met him, when com-
passion for his old companion in arms got the better of him — they
had fought side by side at Worcester — and he took him in his arms,
and said — " John, I am both glad and sorry to see you. If 1 had met
you on the way before you came hither, I should have set you at
liberty, but now it is too late. But be not afraid, I will write to his
majesty for your life."

His trial took place, April i5th. He was condemned on his
own confession that he was at Bothwell, and was sentenced to be
hanged at the Grassmarket, on Wednesday the 23d. He was pre-
vailed on, as he laments in his last speech, to petition the Council,
and they delayed his execution till the 30th. On the 30th, the
Council records further reprieve him :

"John Paton, in Meadowhead, sentenced to die for rebellion,
and thereafter remaining in mosses and moors, to the high contempt of
authority, for which he hath given all satisfaction that law requires,
reprieved till Friday come sen'night, and to have a room by himselt,
that he may prepare more conveniently for death."

Wodrow regards this entr}^ so favourable to him, that he is per-
suaded the bishops had not been present when it was made, and that

358 A Cloud of Witnesses.

some further favour had been designed. Howie says that Dalziel was
as good as his word, that he procured a reprieve from the king, but
that it came first into the hands of Bishop Paterson, the same who
annoyed Marion Harvie in her last hours, who kept it up till it was
of no avail.

He was executed on the Friday, May 9, 1684. " He died," says
Wodrow, " most cheerfully." When on the scaffold, he handed down
his Bible to his wife, Janet Millar, from Eaglesham, whom he
married some years after the death of his first. He left her a widow,
with six children. His oldest daughter was about fifteen.

His testimony is a tersely expressed, soldier-like statement, and its
evangelical savour tells how much he had profited under the preach-
ing of his beloved minister, William Guthrie. Its closing paragraph
is as remarkable for its beauty of expression as for its undoubting
faith in a Covenant-keeping God.

His Bible is at Lochgoin. It is a 24mo, of date 1653. The
metrical Psalms at the close are of a much later year, but they were
put in by the author of the " Scots Worthies," that he might use the
book at Church. Captain Paton's autograph is on the blank side of
the title page. The inscription on the inside of one of the boards
tells its history. It is

" CAPTAIN JOHN PATON's BIBLE,

WHICH HE GAVE TO HIS WIFE FROM OFF THE

SCAFFOLD, WHEN HE AVAS EXECUTED FOR

THE CAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST,

AT EDINBURGH, ON THE 8tH OF MAY 1 684.

JAMES HOWIE RECEIVED IT FROM THE

captain's son's daughter's HUSBAND,

AND GAVE IT TO JOHN HOWIE, HIS NEPHEW."

At Lochgoin a sword 27^ inches in length is shown as his, but it
is light and small, and much rusted. His granddaughter, Annabella
Paton, married Gavin Rowatt, a much esteemed elder in connection
with the Reformed Presbytery during the latter half of last century.
Gavin's eldest son was the Rev. Thomas Rowatt, a faithful and dili-
gent minister of the Gospel, in Penpont, from 1796 to 1832. In the
possession of the minister's nephew, Thomas Rowatt, Esq. of Bonnan-
hill, Strathaven, is a sword that has been handed down in the family
from generation to generation as the Captain's. It is an Andrea
Ferrara of forty inches in length, and in excellent preservation. Its

Captain y ohi Patori. 359

size and weight, when in the hands of a soldier Hke Captain Paton,
would make it a formidable weapon.

John Howie has given a life of him in the " Scots Worthies." It
is, perhaps, the best in the volume. It contains more traditionary
matter than in most of the others. Its close, though somewhat
sesquipedalian in its language, is a good specimen of Howie's manner.
It is—

" Thus another gallant soldier of Jesus Christ came to his end,
the actions of whose hfe, and demeanour at death, do fully indicate
that he was of no rugged disposition, as has been asserted of these
our late sufferers, but rather of a meek, judicious, and Christian con-
versation, tempered with true zeal and faithfulness for the cause and
interest of Zion's King and Lord. He was of a middle stature as
accounts bear, strong and robust, somewhat fair of complexion, with
large eye-brows. But what enhanced him more, was courage and
magnanimity of mind, which accompanied him upon every emergent
occasion ; and though his extraction was but mean, it might be truly
said of him, that he lived a hero and died a martyr."

Captain Paton was buried in the corner of Greyfriars' churchyard,
Edinburgh, in the sacred spot where the dust of so many martyrs lies.
In Fenwick churchyard his fellow-parishioners, soon after the Revolu-
tion, erected a monument to his memory. This monument fell down
some years ago, but a new one has been erected in its place, and an
inscription put on it, written in somewhat fulsome terms, very
different from the simple yet all the more effective language charac-
teristic of the monuments put up to the memory of the martyrs last
century. — Ed.]

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Captain John Paton, who
lived in the parish of Fenwick, and suffered at the
Grassmarket of Edinburgh, May 9th, 1684.

" Dear Friends and Spectators, — You are
come here to look upon me a dying man, and
you need not expect that I shall say much, for I
was never a great orator nor elocjuent of tongue,
though I may say as much to the commendation of God in Christ

60 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Jesus as ever a poor sinner had to say. I have been a great sinner
as ever lived ; strong corruptions, strong lusts, strong passions, a
strong body of death have prevailed against me ; yea, 1 have been
chief of sinners. I may say, on every back look of my way (though
the world cannot charge me with any gross transgression this day, for
which I bless the Lord), Oh 1 what omissions and commissions, what
formality and hyprocrisy, that even my duties have been my grief and
fear, lest Thou, a holy God, had made them my dittays [i.e., in-
dictments], and mayest do. My misimproven time may be heavy
upon my head, and cause of desertion, and especially my supplicat-
ing the council, who have, I think, laid their snares the closer to take
away my life, though contrary to their own professed law. I desire
to mourn for my giving ear to the counsel of flesh and blood, when I
should have been consulting Heaven, and to reflect upon myself,
though it lays my blood the closer to their door ; and I think the
blood of my wife and bairns ; I think their supreme magistrate is
not ignorant of many of their actings, but these prelates will not be
found free when our God makes an inquisition for blood.

" And now, I am come here, desired of some indeed, who thirst
for my life, though by others not desired. I bless the Lord, 1 am
not come here as a thief or murderer, and I am free of the blood of
all men, but hate blood shed directly or indirectly. And now I am
a poor sinner, and could never merit anything but ^vrath, and have
no righteousness of my own ; all is Jesus Christ's, and His alone ;
and I have laid claim to His righteousness and His suff"erings by
faith in Jesus Christ ; through imputation they are mine ; for I have
accepted of His offer on His own terms, and sworn away myself to
Him, to be at His disposal, both privately and publicly, many times ;
and, now, I have put it upon Him to ratify in heaven all that I have
essayed to do on earth, and to do away all my imperfections and
failings, and to stay ray heart on Him. And I seek mercy for all my
sins, and believe to get all my challenges and sins sunk in the blood
and sufferings of Jesus and His righteousness, and that He shall see
of the travail of His soul on me, and the Father's pleasure shall
prosper in His hand.

" I bless the Lord that ever He led me out to behold any part of
His power in the Gospel, in kirk or fields, or any of His actings for
His people in their straits. The Lord is with His people while they
be with Him ; we may set to our seal to this ; and while they be
united ; and oh ! for a day of His power in cementing of this dis-

Captain John Fa ton, 361

tempered age. It is sad to see His people falling out by the way,
and of such a fiery spirit, that look to be at one lodging at night,
especially these who profess to keep by our glorious Work of Refor-
mation and Solemn Engagements to God, and to hold off the sins of
these times. Oh ! hold off extremities on both hands, and follow
the example of our blessed Lord, and the cloud of witnesses in the
eleventh of the Hebrews. And let your way be the good old path,
the Word of God and best times of the Church, for if it be not
according to His Word, it is because there is no truth in it.

" Now, as to my interrogations :

" I was not clear to deny Pentland or Bothwell. They asked me
how long I was at them ? I said eight days, and the assize had no
more to sentence upon, for the Advocate said he would not pursue
for Pentland, by reason of an indemnity before the Privy Council.

" The Council asked me. If I acknowledged authority ? I said.
All authority according to the Word of God.

" They charged me with many things, as if I had been a rebel
since the year 1640, and at Montrose's taking at Mauchline Moor.

" Lord ! forgive them, they know not what they do.

" I adhere to the sweet Scriptures of truth of the Old and New
Testaments, and preached Gospel by a faithful sent ministry, whereby
He many times communicated Himself to the souls of His people,
and to me in particular, both in the kirks, and since on the lields,
and in the private meetings of His people for prayer and supplication
to Him.

" I adhere to our Solemn Covenants, National and Solemn
League, Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, wliich
became national.

" I adhere to our Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Cate-
chisms, Causes of Wrath, and to all the testimonies given by His
people formerly, and of late, either on fields or scaffolds, these years
bygone, in so far as they are agreeable to His Word, and the practice
of our worthy Reformers, and holy, pure zeal, according to His rule.

" I adhere to all our glorious work of Reformation.

" Now, I leave my testimony, as a vdying man, against the horrid
usurpation of our Lord's prerogative and crown-right ; I mean that
Supremacy, established by law in these lands, which is a manifest
usurpation of His crown, for He is given by the Father to be head to
His Church ; 'And He is the head of the body, the Church ; who
is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things He

362 A Cloud of Witnesses.

might have the pre-eminence : ' For it pleased the Father, that in
Him should all fulness dwell' (Col. i. 18, 19); and against all
Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism, and all that depend on that
hierarchy, which is a yoke that neither we nor our fathers were able
to bear, which the poor remnant is groaning under this day, by that
horrid cruelty rending their consciences by tests and bonds ; taking
away their substance and livelihoods by fines and illegal exactions,
plunderings and quarterings, and compelling them to sin, by hear-
ing, joining, and complying with these malicious curates. 'Woe
unto you. Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the king-
dom of heaven against men ; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither
suffer ye them that are entering to go in ' (Matt, xxiii. 13).

" I leave my testimony against the Indulgence, first and last, for
I ever looked on it as a snare, and so I never looked upon them as
a part of the hopeful remnant of our Church ; and now it is sad to
see how some of them have joined by their deeds in the persecution
of the poor remnant, and almost all in tongue persecution.

" Now, I would speak a short word to two or three sorts of folks ;
but I think, if one would rise from the dead, he would not be heard
by this generation, who are mad upon idols and this world.

" First, These who have joined deliberately with the persecutors,
in all their robberies and haling innocent souls to prison, death, and
banishment. The Lord will not hold them guiltless. They may
read what the Spirit of God hath recorded of them in Jude nth
verse and downward, and Obadiah's prophecy.

" A second sort are these who seem to be more sober and know
ing; yet, through timorousness and fear, have joined with them in
all their corrupt courses for ease, and their own things. Do not
think that these fig-leaves will cover you in the cool of the day. It
is a hazard to be mingled with the heathen, lest we learn of them
their way. Oh ! sirs, be zealous and repent. Seek repentance from
Christ ; He purchased it with His blood ; and do your first works if
ever there was any saving work on your souls, for He will come
quickly; 'and who may abide the day of His coming.' Oh! sirs,
the noble grace of repentance grows not in ever)' field \ many could
not get it, though they sought it carefully with tears. Oh ! work
while it is to-day ; the night draweth on, and it may be ver}' dark.

" The third sort are these who have been most tender ; and oh I
who of us can say, that we have, out of love to His glorj', singly fol-
lowed Him. Upon examination, we fear we find it not so, but that

Captai7i y ohn Paton. 36

we have come far short. We fear we find not Him such as we
would, nor He us such as He would. Oh ! we may say, ' From the
crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no place clean.'
None can cast a stone at another : we are all wounds, bruises, and
defilements. We must put His work upon Him who is the fountain
to wash foul souls, who breaks not the bmised reed, nor quenches
the smoking flax. Give Him much ado, for we have much ado for
Him. Oh ! that there were no rest in our bones because of our sin.
It is the Father's pleasure, that He should see Hi's seed, and the
pleasure of the Lord prosper in His hand. Oh ! that He would
make every one of us understand our errors, and seek after the good
old path, followed in the most pure times of our Church, and get in to
our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith in His righteousness, by imputation
and virtue of His sufferings for sinners, and keep by Him. There is
no safety but at His back ; and I beseech you, improve time ; it is pre-
cious when right improven ; for ye know not when the Master calleth,
at midnight, or the cock crowing. Dear friends, the work of the day
is great, and calls for more nor [/.<?., than] ordinaiy. Oh ! be oft at
the throne, and give Him no rest. Make sure your soul's interest.
Seek pardon freely, and then He will come with peace. Seek all the
graces of His Spirit, the grace of love, the grace of holy fear and
humility. Oh ! but there is much need of this and the promised
Spirit.

" Now, I desire to salute you, dear friends in the Lord Jesuh.
Christ, both prisoned, banished, widow and fatherfess, or wandering
and cast out for Christ's sake and the Gospel's ; even the blessing of
Christ's sufferings be with you all, strengthen, stablish, support, and
settle you ; and the blessing of Him who was in the bush, which,
while it burned, was not consumed, and my poor blessing, be with
you all.

" Now, as to my persecutors, I forgive all of them — instigators,
reproachers, soldiers, privy council, justiciaries, apprehenders, in
what they have done to me ; but what they have done in despite
against the image of God's name in me, who am a poor thing without
that, it is not mine to forgive them ; but I wish they would seek for-
giveness of Him who hath it to give ; and would do no more wicked-
ness.

" Now, I leave my poor sympathising wife and six small children
upon the Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who hath promised
to be a father to the fatherless, and a husband to the widow; the

3^4

ri Cloud 0 J l\^ lincsscs.

widow ami orphans' stay. Ik 'rhoii all in all unto them, O Lord.
Now, the blessing of God, and my poor blessing, be with them. And
my suit to Thee is, that Thou wouldest give them Thy salvation.

" And now, farewell wife and children. Farewell all friends and
relations. Farewell all worldly enjoyments. Farewell sweet Scrip-
tures, preaching, praying, reading, singing, and all duties. And
welcome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I desire to commit my soul
to Thee in well-doing. Lord receive my spirit.
" Sic subscribitur,

"JOHN PATON."

James Nisbet.

^jpFjAMES NISBET belonged to Highside, a farm in the neigh-
X'l.' ■ bourhood of Darvel, in the parish of Loudon, Ayrshire.
s^iir^-^] j^g ^yg^j. leia^tetl to John Richmond of Knowe, who was
executed March 19, 1684, and he had come to Glasgow to be pre-
sent at the funeral, when he was recognised by Lieutenant Nisbet,
a cousin of his own, and apprehended. He was carried to the
guard-house, where the usual questions were put, and not giving
satisfactory answers, he was sent to prison.

Nothing IS known of his trial except the brief notice he gives of
it in his testimony. The chief ground of his condemnation, he says,
was that he disowned the authority of the government.

From the note of the compilers, at the close of his testimony, it
appears that he experienced much ill-usage when in prison, and it was
Avith difficulty he got his last testimony written. " He died," says
^^'odrow, " in much peace and full assurance. And they saw good
to execute him a little out of the town, and not at the Cross, which
very little diminished the confluence."

The parishioners of Loudon have erected a monument to his
memory in Newmilns churchyard. There is one also over the
place where his remains lie in Castle Street, Glasgow. The inscrip-
tions on both are in the Appendix. — Ed ]

James Nisbet. 365

HE LAST TESTIMONY of James Nisbet, who lived
in the parish of Loudon, and suffered in Glasgow at
the Howgate Head, June 5, 1604.

" Now I am brought hither this day, to lay down
my life for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and for as-
serting Him to be Head and King in His own house,
and for no matter of fact that they have against me.
Wherefore, dear friends and all true lovers of Zion's cause, if I could
either speak or write anything to the praise and commendation of
my lovely Lord and princely Master, Jesus Christ, King and Head
over His own Church and people, although the most part of the
men of this generation is counting it death to call Him so, yet I, as
a dying man, live and die in the faith of it, that He shall appear to
their confusion, and for His own glory now trampled upon, and
lying so low ; for He has said, ' I am the Lord, that is My name ;
and My glory will I not give to another ' (Isa. xlii. 8).

" Now I am to lay down my life, and indeed I do it willingly,
and not by constraint ; and I bless Him that ever He carved out my
lot such as to be a sufferer for Him, who am such a poor, unworthy
thing. For if I would have acknowledged a mortal man to be su-
preme, I might have redeemed my life, viz., C[harles] S[tuart] to
be supreme over all causes civil and ecclesiastic, as they have now
set him up, which belongs to no mortal man upon earth, and to have
prayed for him. And shall I pray for that man, in his person and
government, who hath broken down the work of the Lord, and has
laid waste the sanctuary of our Lord, who was given of the Father,
as it is said, ' And hath put all thmgs under His feet, and gave Him
to be the head over all things to the church ' (Eph. i. 22) ; and in
the second Psalm ? Now I say, it is for the hope of Israel, and a
witness for the name of Jesus Christ, of which hope I am not ashamed.
Now I in\ite all who love His name, and the welfare of Zion, to
praise Him, for I may set to my seal to it, that He is a good master
to all who will come to Him ; for I may say. He has been good to .
me, who has letten me see a sight of my sins and a sight of the remedy
that He has purchased by His blood, and through His death, to me,
who was born an heir of hell and wrath by nature : but glory be to

366 A Cloud of Witnesses.

His great name, who has made me free from my sin, and made me
as if I had never sinned ; O glory and praise be to Himself. But
what shall I say ? for heart cannot conceive, hand cannot write,
tongue cannot express ! for surely if I could say anything to the
praise and commendation of my lovely Lord Jesus Christ, I have
many things for which to do it.

" I. For that, that He has not letten me deny His truths and
cause, and His persecuted work ; for there is nothing in me, as I am
of myself, but I might have been amongst these that have displayed
a banner against God, and have made the blood of His people to
run in the streets, and have dyed their garments with their blood.

" 2. That He has carved out my lot to be in a land where He
has set up His pure ordinances, both in doctrine, worship, discipline
and government ; for indeed he might have trysted \i.e., appointed]
it to be amongst these that are worshipping antichrist, that whore of
Rome, whose sentence may be read. Rev. xix. 2. And if C[harles]
S[tuartj has not overturned His work, and corrupted the whole
land, by overturning the whole fundamental laws, both civil and
ecclesiastic, I leave it to any judicious person, that is not biassed and
drawn away by that woeful Erastian Supremacy, which is like to over-
spread the whole land.

" 3. That He hath given His word for a rule to walk by, which
word is truth, and the true Word of God. He has made me to walk
by it, and it to be my rule ; and by His Word and Spirit bearing
witness with my Spirit, making me spotless and clean ; and I shall be
clothed with these robes of His righteousness, which are spotless and
clean.

" Now I shall only give a short account of my principles, as the
Lord shall assist ; and the Lord help me to get it done in truth and
sincerity ; for there are many eyes looking on me; the eyes of an all-
seeing God, who is of purer eyes than that He can behold iniquity,
and the eyes of men who are thirsting for my blood.

" I. I adhere and sweetly set to my testimony to the covenant of
redemption, betwixt the Father and the Son, made before the founda-
tion of the world, for the redemption of poor lost mankind, I mean
of these who are elected, called, justified, and sanctified ; for which
my soul shall bless the Lord that ever I heard tell of the same, and
that ever I heard tell that He came into the world to save sinners, of
whom I am chief.

" 2. To the sacred Scriptures ; that they are the true Word of God,

J times Nisbet. 307

and that there is hfe everlasting to be had in them, if ye will apply
your hearts to search diligently, and pursue after them with a sincere
and diligent seeking, with all the soul and heart ; and without sincere
endeavouring to make it your rule, there is no life ; for, says our
blessed Lord, ' I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it.'

" 3. To the work of Reformation ; as it was reformed in all the
several steps thereof from under Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism,
and all other errors whatsomever, not agreeable to the Scriptures, the
written Word of God.

" 4. To the Confession of Faith, the Sum of Saving Knowledge,
Directory for Worship and Discipline, and to our Catechisms Larger
and Shorter.

"5. To the Covenants, National and Solemn League, whereby
these lands were engaged unto the Lord ; and Scotland may bless
the Lord that ever He engaged them in a covenant with Himself. I
say to you that desire to own the same, make it your ground to plead
with the Lord, till He come back again to these lands.

" 6. To the preaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
as it was faithfully preached by faithful ministers, called and com-
missionated, and sent by Himself; and also my testimony to the
Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, and the Causes
of the Lord's Wrath against this land this day. But alas ! it may be
said. Many have gone backward, and not forward ; the most part of
this generation have refused to walk any more with Him, ever since
Bothwell, only these two, viz., Mr D[onald] C[argill] and Mr R[ichard]
C[ameron], which I desire to set to my seal to the faithfulness of
these two men's doctrines, for my soul has been refreshed by them.
And I set to my seal to all their proceedings and actings in the work
they were called to, and my soul blesseth the Lord that ever I heard
them preach.

" 7. To all the appearing in arms, in defence of the Gospel, and
self-defence, both before Bothwell and since.

" 8. To the Excommunication at the Torwood, by Mr D[onald]
C[argill], as it is just and lawful, and will stand in force and record,
ay, till repentance make it null, of which there is little appearance.

"9. To the testimony given at Rutherglen, May 29, 1679; the
declaration given at Lanark, January 12, 1682, by a party whom the
Lord raised and stirred up by His Spirit, and owned them in that
work, to give a public testimony against that soul destroying and lan'i
ruining thing called the Test, although many in this generation be

368 ^I Cloud oj Witnesses.

pleading for the lawfulness of it, and disowning the Covenant, which
we were all bound to. Oh ! my heart trembles to think what will
come on this generation, for their dreadful apostacy and departing
from the way of the Lord.

" 10. To all the fellowship meetings of the Lord's people, for
reading, praying, and singing of Psalms, and all the other duties pro-
per for, and incumbent upon them. I mean these that desire to
wrestle and hold up the case of His ruined work, and his poor suffer-
ing remnant.

" II. To the eight articles, called the New Covenant, taken at
the Queensferry off worthy H[enry] H[all].

" Now as I have left my testimony in short to the truths of God,
so I desire to leave my testimony against the defections of the time,
as the Lord shall help and assist. Therefore,

"1. T, as a dying wtness, leave my testimony against Popery and
Prelacy, which is so much countenanced and set up in Scotland this
day, especially by those who seemed to be most eminent, as it is in
Gal. i. 6, ' I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that
called you into the grace of Christ, unto another Gospel.'

" 2. Against Quakerism, Independency, and all other errors which
are not according to the Word of God, and our solemn Covenants
and Confession of Faith.

" 3. Against the tyrant upon the throne of Britain and Ireland,
for his tyranny, oppression, and bloodshed, and for overturning the
laws, both civil and ecclesiastic, and not making the law his rule to
be ruled by, but he ruling the law, and not the law him ; which is not
according to the Word of God, as it is in 2 Sam. xxiii. 3, ' He tl)at
ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.' Even
against that tyrant, and all upholders, aiders, assisters, and maintainers
of him. Oh ! what will become of this generation for their apostacy
and departing away from God ?

" 4. Against the Oath of Supremacy, for the setting up of persons
as supreme, and following and making them their rule, and not taking
the Word of God to be their rule.

" 5. Against that Bond taken in the Greyfriars kirkyard, although
there be many that denied it, until the Lord in His own due time
made it appear, when the trial came to agreater length ; for He has
said in His Word, that there is nothing done in secret, but He will
Have it manifested in the light.

" 6. Against that Bond called the Bond of Regulation, for their

yanies Nisbei. 369

binding to walk according to the will of men, and not according to
the will of God. Surely it is not according to the practice of the
apostles : ' But Peter and John answered, and said unto them. Whether
it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto
God, judge ye' (Acts iv. 19).

" 7. Against the Bond pressed by the Highland host in the west
country. Oh ! what may be said of this generation ? It may be
said, Ye have gone away backward from my ordinances, and ye have
forsaken me the living God, and have hewed you out broken cisterns
that can hold no water.

" 8. Against that land-ruining and soul-destroying thing called
the Test.

" 9. Against all coming out of prison upon Bond and Caution ;
whatever men may say of it, it is a complying with the avowed
enemies, and a binding themselves to be the prisoners of men, and
not the prisoners of Jesus Christ.

" ID. Against all compearing at courts and paying of fines ; for
it implies that we have done a fault against .them ; and also, it
approves of these as just judges, that are imposing these things ; but
ye may see what they are, for there is no sober man will get leave
to plead an action there. And can these be called judges, and
owned as judges, who are grassators [/.^., robbers] and land judg-
ments ?

"11. Against all Cess and Locality, which is imposed for the
down bearing of the Gospel, and for maintaining bloody and avowed
enemies to banish Christ and His Gospel out of the land, and to
hunt, plunder, rob, spoil, and persecute the poor people of God; for
in the very narrative of the Act, it is set down for that end, and
tieclared to the world ; see what is said against it : ' But ye are they
that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a
table for that troop, and that furnish the drink-offering unto that num-
ber. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow
down to the slaughter : because when I called, ye did not answer ;
when I spake ye did not hear ; but did evil before mine eyes, and
did choose that wherein I delighted not ' (Isa. Ixv. 11-12).

"12. Against hearing of curates, because they are wolves and
boars, thrust in upon the Lord's people to kill and destroy ; and
against the Indulgence first and last ; and against the hearing of
them, and joining with them, or pleading for them ; because they are
not entered in by the right door, and teach for doctrine the com-

3 /O A CUmci of Witnesses.

mandments of men. Therefore they are in so far not the ministers of
Jesus Christ, but the ministers of men, as it is said : ' Verily I say unto
you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but cUmbeth
up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber' (John x. i).
And against all ministers and professors, who are now lying at ease,
when Zion is in trouble, and are shifting their duty for fear of hazard,
and are sheltering themselves under the shadow of these avowed
enemies, pleading in their favours, and have broken the poor people
of God, and rent the bowels of the Church ; and especially those who
appeared once in the fields, to hold up a banner for our lovely Lord
and Master Jesus Christ. I shall be a witness against them, if re-
pentance prevent it not.

" Now, ye that are the poor wrestling remnant, weary not of the
cross of Christ, for He is a good Master, and He sends none a war-
fare on their own charges, for He will own them in all that he car\^es
out f6r them. Oh ! double your diligence, and give Him no rest till
He come back again. As in Isa. Ixii. 7, 'And give Him no rest, till
He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.' Oh I
what will come of poor Scotland, for the horrid iniquities and abomi-
nations, perjury and bloodshed, and Covenant-breaking ? Oh ! Scot-
land's punishment will be sad ; but my eyes shall be closed, and
I shall not see it, and I am well content, seeing I get my soul for a
prey. Now I am afraid God will not know many of this generation,
that have gone such a dreadful length in defection and backsliding.
But oh, what shall I say ! I shall leave it to Himself to do as He may
most glorify Himself, in preserving a seed and remnant to serve Him.
Now I die in the faith of it, that He has a seed whom He will have
preserved when He sends forth instruments with slaughter weapons ;
that He has a party that He will set a mark on, as it is said in Ezel:.
ix. 4 : ' And the Lord said unto him, go through the midst of the
city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the fore-
heads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that
be done in the midst thereof.'

" Now I say, weary not of the cross of Christ, although ye should
suffer persecution, for He has said, ' In the world ye shall have tribu-
lation, but in me ye shall have peace.' And oh I but He taketh exact
notice what is done to His people : ' Thou shouldst not have entered
into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity ; yea, thou
shouldst not have looked upon their affliction in the day of their
calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their

yames Nisbet. 3 7 i

calamity' (Obad. 13). Oh! but that be a sweet word : ' It is a
faithful saying, for, if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with
Him ; if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with him ; if we
deny Him, He also will deny us' (2 Tim. ii. 11-12). Oh, sirs!
lose not heaven for Mammon, and your own souls for what ye can
suffer here. It is true none can merit heaven by their sufferings,
but it is as true that He has said, ' He that will not forsake all and
take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple.' Now I
know there are many will brand me with self-murder, because I have
got so many an offer to go to Carolina upon such easy terms. But as
to that I answer. Self-preservation must stoop to truth's preservation.
There are indeed many of this generation who pretend to keep their
present ease and to be followers of Christ ; but I defy any, if they be
called to a public testimony, but they shall either lose their present
possession, or else that which is of more worth, even their immortal
souls and everlasting salvation.

" Now as to the heads of my indictment whereon they have
sentenced me to die, they are mainly these :

" I. My approving of Drumclog and Bothwcll, and being at
Glasgow to be lawful and in the defence of the Gospel, and in
self-defence, which both the law of God and nature allow.

" 2. For adhering to the National and Solemn League and
Covenant ; and they declare before ray face that both their king
and Council had disowned the Covenant, and had taken that way
by their Acts of Parliament, and said that they were both unjust and
unlawful ; and shall such be owned and adhered to, who have de-
clared themselves against King Christ, and have broken His laws,
and have seated themselves in the room of Jesus Christ, which be-
longs to no mortal man upon earth, and much less to him who is a
usurper and a tyrant, I mean Charles Stuart? And here I, as a
dying witness, leave my testimony against that monstrous beast j
for our Saviour calls Herod a fox, and says, ' Go tell that fox,
I work to-day, and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be per-
fected.'

" 3. And mainly my sentence was, that I disowned their autho-
rity. For since they had rejected the Covenant, I was the more
clear to disown them to be my judges or governors over the land ;
and they asserted it treasonable, because I said none of the people
of God would say otherwise. And in plain terms and direct words,
I deny them to have any power to rule either in civil or ecclesiastic

172 A Cloud of Witnesses.

matters. Also these avowed enemies, who are thirsting for my blood,
charged me with going up and down the country plundering and
murdering, and so by their law made liable to puni>hment, even to
the loss of my life ; but I declare, who am within a little to appear
before the righteous Judge, that I never intended to wrong any man.
And so it is evident they take away my life upon the account of
adhering to truth ; and I bless the Lord that ever He gave me a life
to lay down for Him, and that ever He counted me worthy to lay
down ni}' life for His persecuted truth. O matchless free grace;
that is making choice of the like of me, and poor weak things to
confound the strong, and the poor foolish things to confound the
wise !

" Now there are three sorts of folk that 1 would speak a
word to :

" The first are these that have begun in the way of the Lord, and
seemingly have gone a good length, and when the storm of persecu-
tion arose, for fear of the rough sea of trouble, have drawn back.
Oh, mind that word in Heb. x. 38, ' But if any man draw back, My
soul shall have no pleasure in him ; ' and Rom. viii. 35, ' Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? ' and many
more places of Scripture.

" A second sort are these who are going on in rebellion against
God openly and avowedly, as ye may see in Psalm ii. i, 4, 5, 'Why
do the heathen rage, and the peo[)le imagine a vain thing ? He that
sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have them in de-
rision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and ve.K them
in His sore displeasure.' O poor Scotland, that once married away
to the Lord, and now has provoked Him to depart and leave it,
and give a bill of divorcement, as it were ! Oh, Scotland has
sinned dreadfully, what by Covenant-breaking, bloodshed, lying, and
swearing.

" Now a third sort are these who desire to keep their garments
clean, and undefiled with the abounding sins of this generation. Go
on in the way of the Lord, and fear not what man can do, for He
has said, ' Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that
have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye
shall fear : fear Him, which, after He hath killed, hath power to cast
into hell.' I can set to my seal to it, that Christ is a good master,
and well worthy the suffering for.

Arthtcr Tacket.

" And now I can freely and heartily forgive all men what they
have done to me, as I desire to be forgiven of my Father which is in
heaven ; but what they have done against a holy God and His image
in me, that is not mine to forgive them, but I leave that to Him to
dispose on as He sees fit, and as He may most glorify Himself

" Now I am to take my leave of all created comforts here. And I
bid farewell to the sweet Scriptures. Farewell reading and praying.
Farewell sinning and suffering. Farewell sighing and sorrowing,
mourning and weeping. And farewell all Christian friends and rela-
tions. Farewell brethren and sisters, and all things in time. And
welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Welcome heaven and ever-
lasting joy and praise, and innumerable company of angels and
spirits of just men made perfect. Now into Thy hands I commit
my spirit, for it is Thine.

" Sic subscribUur,

"JAMES NISBET."

jiHIS martyr was so inhumanly treated and constantly watched,
that it was with much difficulty he got anything written,
and tliat only now a line and then a line ; and hence some

(evf repetitions which were in the manuscript were left out ; which,

it is hoped, will be liable to no misinterpretation.

Arthur Tacket.

RTHUR TACKET was a tailor in Hamilton. He was in
his seventeenth or eighteenth year v/hen the battle took
place at Bothwell Bridge. He left his mother's house on
the morning of the defeat with arms, in order to take share in the
battle ; but he seems to have done nothing further than give his
presence, of which he speaks in his testimony, for he soon again re-
turned home. The laird of Raploch shortly afterwards heard that he

374 A Cloud of Witnesses.

had been at the battle, and had him seized and carried prisoner to
Edinburgh.

He seems speedily to have been set at liberty ; but he, as an
heritor, had some little property, and so, two years afterwards, in his
absence, March 1681, he was adjudged to be a traitor. In the be-
ginning of June 1684, he was apprehended, when coming from hear-
ing Renwick at a conventicle at Blackloch.

The Council Registers, July i, record, " Duke Hamilton informs
the Council that Arthur Tacket, now a prisoner, is an heritor, and
forfeited for the rebellion." Heritors present at Bothwell were ex-
cluded from the act of indemnity. " The Lords leave to the justices
to proceed against him according to their sentence of forfeiture."
Under July 22, Arthur Tacket " confesseth before the Council that he
was in the rebellion at Bothwell, and lately with the rebels who were
in arms m the shire of Lanark. The Lords ordain him to be ques-
tioned by torture to-morrow at nine of the clock, before the com-
mittee for public affairs." Tacket would not tell who had been the
preacher at Blackloch, or whom he had seen when there, and hence
the order that he be put to the torture.

When he was brought before the committee for torture, the Ad-
vocate assured him, in the name of those present, that if he would
be ingenuous and free upon all that was to be asked, what he said
should never militate against himself or another man. Tacket boldly
answered that he could not credit them, since they had broken their
promises, oaths, and subscriptions to God and man ; and he could
not think they would press him so much to declare who preached, if
they were to make no use of what he said. On this the hangman
was ordered to open the Boot, and he laid his leg in it. The hang-
man was about to proceed with the torture, when the surgeon present
desired him to wait a little. The surgeon then took the Advocate
aside, and told him that from Arthur's youth, and the slenderness of
the limb, a few strokes would crush it in pieces, and since they were
determined to take his life, and nothing would likely be got out of
him, it would be better not to proceed. Upon this statement the
Advocate ordered the thumbkins to be brought, which he heroically
endured without making any disclosure. The sentence which the
Lords of Justiciary passed upon him was " that Arthur Tacket, being
upon the 21st of March 1681, found guilty, by an assize, of being in
the rebellion 1679, and adjudged to be demeaned and executed as
a traitor when apprehended, he being now apprehended, the Lords

Artluir Tacket.

375

appoint him to be hanged at the Grassmarket, Wednesday, July 30,
betwixt two and four in the afternoon,"

In the close of his Testimony, Arthur Tacket alludes to an alle-
gation brought against Renwick by his enemies, that he was not
lawfully called and ordained to the ministry. In the Informatory
Vindication, this allegation is examined and set aside. It is said,
" ^Vhe)l he went abroad there was no hope of ordination here in
Scotland to any who agreed with us, neither could it be safely sought
after." In the next paragraph, while vindicating the classes of
Groningen, the anti-sectarian and Catholic nature of the principles
held by the societies very plainly appears. " Though the classes of
Groningen, by whom he was ordained, differ from the Reformation
of Scotland in her best times, in some things ; yet considering, (i.)
that in these differences they were never reformed, and so cannot be
charged therein with defection ; (2.) that they agree with the true
Presbyterial Church of Scotland, in all principles against Popery,
Prelacy, Erastianism, and all heretical and sectarian errors ; (3.) that
they did then object nothing against our present Testimony; (4.)
that they come under a general, and, far other consideration, being
of a foreign church, than ministers of the same original church, and
under the same bond of Covenant with ourselves ; for which cause,
joining with them in that act of ordination, came under another con-
sideration ; (5.) that in the act of ordination they did obtrude none
of these differences, but did take him engaged to teach according to
the Word of God, and the Confession of Faith of the Church of
Scotland, and the discipline thereof Upon all which considerations
it was thought lawful to accept of ordination from the foresaid classes,
especially seeing these differences were before them, and plainly and
particularly protested against, which was sufficient in the circum-
stances." It is then shown that no Cocceian took part in his ordina-
tion. By Cocceian was understood one who denied the moral
obligation of the fourth commandment upon Christians under the
New Testament. Cocceius, or John Koch, was Professor in Leyden,
and died in 1699. His opinions on the Moral Law have been long
forgotten, but his name still lives as the representative of the class of
commentators who seek to find Christ everywhere in the pages of the
Old Testament.

The Labadeans were the followers of John Labadie, originally a
Jesuit, but who renounced Romanism, and became a zealous Pro-
testant pastor. He seems to have been volatile by nature, and soon

;76 A Cloud of Witnesses.

adopted opinions on the insufficiency of Scripture as a rule to man,
without particular revelations from the Holy Spirit, that led him to
decline subscription to the French Confession of Faith, when called
to minister to a congregation in Middleburg, in Holland. After his
death in 1674, his flock removed to Friesland. As Friesland is the
adjoining province to Groningen, Renwick's enemies fancied that
Labadeans must have been concerned in his ordination. — Ed.]

> ■^♦^ <

^ HE EAST TESTIMONY of Arthur Tacket, tailor in
Hamilton, who suffered in the Grassmarket of Edin-
burgh, August I, 1684.

" Being appointed to die in the Grassmarket, 1
thought it was a duty lying upon my conscience
before the Lord, to leave this short word of testimony
behind me, in testification of my close adherence to
all these controverted truths, as they are all agreeable- and conform
to the written Word of God.

" And now I desire to bless His name with my whole heart and
soul for this, that ever He made choice of the like of me, such a
poor, weak, feckless [/>., worthless] insignificant thing as I am, in
counting me worthy to suffer for His noble cause and controverted
truths, His name, interest, and Covenant, now controverted and
brought in debate by this God-daring, Christ-dethroning, and God-
contemning, adulterous, and bloody generation wherein my lot is
fallen. And this I can say, that through His grace, I am well satis-
fied and heartily content with my lot, that God, in His infinite
wisdom, has seen fit to carve out unto me. And through His grace
I am well helped to great (juietness, calmness, and serenity of mind
before the Lord, and a holy submission to what is His will towards
me in this ; that if every hair of my head and every drop of my blood
were a life, I would willingly lay them down for my lovely Lord and
Master, Jesus Christ.

" Some will possibly say that this is an untruth, and so cannot be
believed by them, notwithstanding of all this. But whether it be
believed or not, it is true ; for I am not dying by constraint and

^irtlmr Tacket. 2>n

unwillingness ; for this 1 dare say in His sight (my conscience bearing
ine witness), that I am a thousand times more willing to die this day
for my lovely Lord and Master's noble cause, and controverted truths,
than ever I was to live ; and the truths of God that are so much con-
troverted, are become more precious and clearer unto me at death,
than ever they were heretofore in my life : as David says, Ps. xxiii. 4,
* Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil : for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me.' This I have been made really sensible of, by my experience
in all that I have met with, that the cross of Christ has been all
paved o^■er with love, that it has been made to become like unto a
bed of roses unto me ; and all that ever I have met with, first and
last, has been made sweet and easy unto me, and no trouble in the
least, and that He has been a loving and a kind Lord unto me, and
He has been as good as His word. This I can say to His com-
mendation, and to the commendation of the cross of Christ, that He
has borne always the heavy end of the cross Himself, that to me it
was no ti'ouble in the least.

" Oh praise, praise to the riches of His free grace, for His match-
less and unexpressible love that I have met with since I was brought
to prison ; and when I was sorest put at, and threatened with torture
by these cruel and bloody tyrants, the more of His love and kindness
I did meet with. This I have been made really sensible of, when I
was hardest dealt with, as David says, ' Blessed be the Lord, because
He hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my
strength and shield ; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped ;
therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth ' (Ps. xxviii. 6, 7). For I have
been well helped and owned of the Lord, and that in a very singular
manner, that His presence has made my soul to sing and rejoice
through the greatest of difficulties and trials that ever I was trysted
[i.e., visited] with.

" And this is a sweet promise and noble encouragement for me
in that xli. of Lsa. verse 10-13, ' Fear thou not, for I am with thee ;
be not disma)'ed ; for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee : yea, I
will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of m\-
righteousness. Behold, all they that Avere incensed against thee shall
be ashamed and confounded ; they shall be as nothing ; and they that
strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not
find them, even them that contended with thee ; they that war
against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I

178 A Cloiid of Witnesses,

the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear
not, I will help thee.' Whicli has been well made out unto me in
all things that I have met with. For since I was brought to prison 1
have been well helped of the Lord, that the fear of hell, death, and
the grave, and the fear of all things are taken away fully from me,
that I am not afraid to venture upon a gibbet for my lovely Lord and
Master's noble cause, and for His controverted truths ; and this I am
really persuaded of, that the truth of God was never so much contro-
verted as now. But I am sure of it, that the truths of God, when
they are most controverted, ought to be most zealously owned by
His people, I may well acquiesce and assent unto. ' Nevertheless
I am continually with thee : thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to
glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee ? and there is none upon
earth that I desire beside Thee' (Psalm Ixxiii. 23-25). This I dare
say in His sight (my conscience bearing me witness), that there is
nothing in heaven or in earth so desirable unto my soul as precious
Christ ; for I am confident and persuaded, that this is His language
to me, '■ Arise and depart, for this is not your rest, because it is pol-
luted.' As Paul says, ' For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens' (2 Cor. v. i). And as
Paul says, ' Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incor-
ruption ' (i Cor. xv. 50). I can clearly say by my experience, that
through Jesus Christ, whom I desire to take for my King, Priest, and
Prophet, and my only Lord and Lawgiver, I have been made more than
a conqueror over death, hell, and the grave, and all things in this life.
" Now to come to show you the only head that my sentence
of death is founded upon ; by men it is mainly for being in
arms at Bothwell, which was merely in defence of ourselves,
and in defence of the Gospel preached, and standing to the de-
fence of the Covenant of God, which the whole of the land was
solemnly sworn and engaged to, with hands lifted up to the most
high God, and so bound to stand to the defence thereof For which
I am unjustly sentenced to death by men, of which sentence I am
not ashamed this day, but count it my only glory, honour, and dig-
nity, whilst He passed by such tall cedars, which is a matter of
wonder and admiration to me. But as He has said in His Word,
*In nothing be ye terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an

Arthur Tacket. 379

evident token of perdition ; but to you of salvation, and that of God ;
for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on
Him, but also to suffer for his sake.' So suffering is a gift, not given
to every one ; and I desire to bless His name with my whole heart
and soul, that He has counted such a poor thing as 1 am, worthy of
the gift of suftering.

"Now, this is to let you all know, worthy and dear Christian friends,
that are desiring to keep the way of the Lord, that there was not one
word of all they interrogated me upon, in the sentence of death that
these bloody tyrants passed against me ; but only for being in arms
at Bothwell Bridge. And let none think that I am sentenced to
death upon that head (that I was so cruelly threatened with torture
by these bloody tyrants for), which was for being at the Blackloch,
and because I would not declare who was the minister, and what
persons I knew. And although men have, by a permissive and limited
power, passed a sentence of death against me, to take away my natural
life, this I know, and am persuaded of, that there is a judge above
who has passed a sentence of life in heaven unto my soul this day,
which shall never be recalled or ranversed [?>., reversed] again, which
is my only encouragement ; and this He has promised to as many as
believe in Him, to give them everlasting life. These that suffer with
Him, shall reign with Him ; and these that be dead with Him, shall
also live with Him. As Paul says in Rom. x. 9-1 1, 'If thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart, that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unt-o salvation. For the Scripture saith,
' Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed,' which is my
only comfort, and a noble, sweet encouragement for me ; and this
He has promised in His Word, ' that He shall feed His flock like a
shepherd ; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them
in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.' I
have found by my experience, that the Lord my God has sweetly and
gently led me through the greatest of difficulties that I have been
trysted \i.e., visited] with, since He made choice of me to suffer for
His noble cause. Oh ! if ye knew what of His love I have met with,
and what sweet ingredients of the Lord's matchless love have been
intermixed and put in my cup, ye would not be afraid to venture
upon the sweet cross of Christ, which has been made sweet and easy
unto me."

3So

A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

KCAUSE the heads of truth he gives his testimony to, and the
defections he witnesseth against, are much the same with the
prececHng testimonies ; therefore, to avoid all impertinent
repetition, they are omitted. He is both full and accurate, passing
by nothing of the heads of sin and duty, which at that time were con-
troverted ; particularly (which hath not been met with in any of the
former) he gives his hearty testimony to that faithful and called mini-
ster of Jesus Christ, Mr James Renwick, for his holding up the fallen-
down banner of our Lord, and jeopardmg his life in the open fields ;
although some are pleased to sa)-, that he is not lawfully called and
ordained to the ministry, but that he was admitted by the Erastian
ministers of Holland, such as Cocceians and Labadeans ; but it is
faithfully witnessed, that he was admitted without them, and by the
purest of the ministers of the Church of Holland, according to the
Church of Scotland's discipline and government, Covenants, and Con-
fession of Faith. And he dies with a spirit of meekness, declaring that
he forgives his enemies all the wrongs they had done him, personally
considered, though witnessing against the indignities which they had
done to Christ, and him as a member of that body whereof Christ is
the head. And whereas he was branded with disowning magistrates,
he declares before God and the world that he owns and allows of all
magistrates, superior or inferior, as they are conform to the \vritten
Word of God, and our Solemn Covenants, and as they are a terror
to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well.

^^^^t^=^

Thomas Robertson.

HOMAS ROBERTSON was a native of a parish somewhere
in the south of Scotland. In his testimony, he says he had
been a hearer of curates. Under their ministry he received
no profit, but came away from hearing them with more hardness of
heart than when he went. Ere long, he came to the conclusion that

Thomas Robertson, 381

matters were not right with him, and, learning that in the place where
he lived there were some hearers of the persecuted Presbyterian
ministers, he, though they were strangers to him, made bold to tell
his case to one of their number. The result was, that he was taken
to where he heard a sermon that left on his mind a conviction of the
evil of his former courses. Henceforward he ceased to wait on the
ministry of the curates. However, he soon found it prudent to flee
into England, where he resided for sometime in Newcastle.

Here the oath of allegiance was tendered to him, which he
refused, and he was thrown into prison. By some means or other
he escaped, and got to Edinburgh, where, at a rigorous search, made
in November 29, 1684, in consequence of the publication of the
Apologetic Declaration against informers and intelligencers, he was
apprehended. He was brought before the Council, and was speedily
ensnared by the usual questions. The Council remitted him to the
Lords of Justiciar}^

His trial, along with that of nine others, took place on December
8th. Although it was impossible that he, and the others tried with
him, could have had any share in the drawing up the Apologetic
Declaration, they were indicted upon the charge, " that upon the
28th of October last bypast, they did emit a most barbarous and
hellish proclamation."

The trial was continued till next day. In the course of the trial,
six of the accused were dismissed on renouncing the Declaration, but
Thomas Robertson, and George Jackson, and James Graham, whose
testimonies follow in a later part of the volume, and Thomas Wood,
were brought in guilty, and sentenced to be hanged that day,
December 9, 1684, at the Gallowlee, betwixt two and five in the
afternoon.

The Apologetic Declaration was the natural result of the cruel
measures of the government. A " proclamation against rebels " had
been issued July 22, 1684, in which the king is made to assert that
the monarchy had devolved upon him by God alone, and at the same
time all the sheriffs and subordinate officers of government are
charged, when any of the persecuted appeared in their jurisdictions,
to call together the lieges, to raise the hue and cry against them, and
to pursue them until caught. On August i, 1684, the officers of the
army were empowered to call for and examine all persons as can give
them information respecting the so-called rebels.

At the general meeting of the United Societies, in October 15,

382 A Cloud of Witnesses.

1684, it was resolved, in order to warn informers of " the wickedness
of their way," and to deter them from acting as spies, as well as to
vindicate themselves from false charges, to issue a public declaration.
James Renwick was commissioned to draw it up. It was published
October 28, 1684, under the title of "The Apologetic Declaration
and Admonitory Vindication of the true Presbyterians of the Church
of Scotland, especially anent Intelligencers and Informers." It will
be found in Wodrow, and it forms part of the Informatory Vindica-
tion. It declares :

" As we utterly detest and abhor that hellish principle of killing
all who differ in judgment or persuasion from us, it having no bottom
upon the Word of God or right reason ; so we look upon it as a duty
binding upon us to publish openly unto the world, that, forasmuch
as we are firmly and really purposed not to injure or offend any
whomsoever, but to pursue the end of our Covenants, in standing to
the defence of our glorious work of Reformation and of our own
lives ; yet we do hereby declare unto all, that whosoever stretch forth
their hands against us, while we are maintaining the cause and interest
of Christ against His enemies, in defence of our covenanted Reforma-
tion, by shedding our blood . . . and all intelligencers, together
with all such as raise the hue and cry after us ... . we say all
and every one of such shall be reputed by us enemies to God and
the covenanted work of Reformation, and punished as such accord-
ing to our power and the degree of their offence." To guard against
individual efforts among their followers to take the law into their own
hands, it is added, " Finally, we do hereby declare that we abhor,
condemn, and discharge any personal attempts upon any pretext
whatsomever, without previous deliberation, common or competent
consent, without certain probation by sufficient witnesses, the guilty
persons' confession, or the notoriousness of the deeds themselves."

It will be noticed that the testimony of Thomas Robertson is
somewhat out of the chronological order that has been followed since
that of David Hackston of Rathillet, page 39. This is the case also
with the short account of John Dick, and the testimony of Thomas
Harkness, and his fellow-sufferers. All, however, are within the
year 1684. — Ed.]

Thomas Robertson. 38;

HE LAST SPEECH and TESTIMONY of Thomas
Robertson, who lived at Newcastle, and was put in
prison there, for refusing the oath of allegiance, and
having made his escape thence to Edinburgh, was
taken at a public search there, November 29, 1684,
and suffered at the Gallowlee, the 9th day of December
thereafter.

" Now, Dear Friends, — Time seems to me to be but short ; oh !
now, welcome long eternity. It is, and has been the butt of my
desire, this considerable time, to eye God's glory, and I preferred it
to my own soul's salvation ; yet, when I heard my indictment, it had
a strange effect upon me ; and although death hath sometimes been my
desire for the cause of Christ ; yet it seemed not a little terrible unto
me, and that for the space of six or seven hours ; so that sometimes
it had such a prevalency, that I was afraid I should have turned back ;
and I was so put to it, that I had nothing to hold by but former pur-
poses and determinations ; and from the consideration of Christ's
faithfulness, I grappled like a man more than half-drowned. At last
T got hold — a small hold of Him whom I could not see. And that
small grip which I got through His mercy, I kept until I got more ;
so that now He has discovered Himself unto me, and He was pleased
to stay, and make with me a new contract ; so that now, through His
grace, I am resolved not to let Him go, let the cost be what it will.

" Now, ray friends, I say not this for the discouragement of
any that is beginning to follow Christ, or any that is already begun ;
only I do it as a warning. I would fain have poor things to make
sure work, and to get sure hold of Him ; for although He seems to
cover Himself, and that when poor things think they stand in most
need, yet He will return unto them, in His own appointed time,
and that for the greater advantage of them that are thus trysted
[i.e., tried].

" Oh ! for hearts to love Him ! It hath been my great trouble,
that I could never love Him much, nor fall upon the right way of
worshipping Him. Oh ! to have my soul soundly knit to Him. Oh !
for strength. Oh ! for strength to be carried straight and cleanly
through, so that I may lose neither hair nor hoof of the truths of

384 y^i Cloud of Witnesses.

Christ. In so far as I am able to understand, it hath been my great
care always to know what was sin, and what was duty. I think I
have not been out of my duty in so doing j and I think it is the duty
of all persons to be concerned in that matter ; for how can persons
know how to avoid the one, and cleave to the other, except they
distinguish betwixt the two. Now, I shall say no more to that, but
only, oh ! that folk would make it a great part'of their work, to dis-
tinguish betwixt the two.

" Now, I adhere to the covenant of redemption betwixt the
Father and the Son, before the foundation of the world, for redemption
of poor things that He has chosen out of :he world. O ! for love to
Him ! oh for love to Him ! O ! now to be with Him, that I may
experience the benefit of that Covenant which cost Him His precious
blood ! And now, seeing He is calling me to give a testimony, I
think, if every hair of my head were a man, it is all too little to lay
down for Him. O for love to this nonsuch Jesus Christ !

" I adhere and leave my testimony to the Word of God, the Scrip-
tures of the Old and New Testaments, by which I must be judged ;
for if we take any other way, we will be sure to go wrong, for the
Spirit of God witnesseth with our spirits, that the Word of God is the
only rule by which we ought to walk.

" I leave my testimony to the Work of Reformation, once glori-
ous in our land ; although, alas ! now defaced, and the hedge and
government of Christ's house broken down ; and the kingly office of
Christ usurped by a cruel and blood-thirsty man, to whom I could
wish repentance, if it were the will of God ; and to all that associate
and join with him ; but alas ! I think it is hid from their eyes.

" Now, I leave my testimony to the National and Solemn League
and Covenant, Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms,
Sum of Saving Knowledge, and the several parts of Reformation to
this day of my death.

" Also, I leave my testimony to all the faithful ambassadors, and
sent servants of Jesus Christ, and to the preached Gospel itself; to
Mr Donald Cargill, that worthy servant of Jesus Christ, who kept up
the standard and banner of Jesus Christ, Avhen the rest fled from
Him, and the Lord's standard. Also, I leave my testimony to Mr
James Renwick, as a faithfully and lawfully ordained and called
servant of Jesus Christ.

" And I leave my testimony to all the testimonies of the faithful
martyrs and witnesses of Jesus Christ, that have laid down their lives

Old Parliament House, Edinburgh.

Thomas Robertson. 385

tor the cause of Christ, and are banished to foreign lands for the
name of Christ, and His most noble cause.

" And, also, I disown, disclaim, and witness against all this evil
and adulterous generation — a generation of revolters, backsliders,
and evil-doers, that will meet with severe punishment, great wrath and
judgments, and eternal death besides, except they repent.

" And now, in a special manner, being convinced of my sin and
tolly in adhering to Prelacy, and spending the most part of my time
in hearing of curates, and thereby approving of them and their cor-
ruptions, and corrupt doctrines ; notwithstanding that I came always
away from hearing them with more hardness of heart than when I
went to hear them ; but at last I began to consider that matters were
not right with me in this case, and hearing that there was a people
in the place that were hearers of Presbyterian ministers, but not being
acquainted with them, I knew not what to do to be acquainted.
However, I presumed to tell my case to one of them, who took me
to the place where I heard a Presbyterian minister preach, which left
a conviction upon my conscience of my former courses, and that I
was out of the way of the Lord for salvation and eternal life. After
which time I went no more back to follow them that are in direct
opposition to the way of the Lord, our Covenants, and work of Re-
formation ; and by degrees came to see clearly, that the ministers
that were most even-down for God, and against the defections and
abominations of the time, and this adulterous generation, were only
they that the Lord honoured with the revealing of His secrets and
His mind concerning the duty of the day ; as Mr Donald Cargill,
and these that were faithful to the death, and sealed the cause with
their blood. And oh ! how did I love and long to be a witness
for Him, both against my own former ways and the ways of that
abominable Prelacy, which now I hate, and to get leave to lay
down my life for Christ and His precious truths. And now He
has granted me my heart's desire, and I seal this with my blood
that this is the way of God, and His truth, which I now lay down
my life for.

" Not having time, I shall say no more, but leave my wife to the
good guiding of the Lord, and commend Him and His way for net
to follow, and my love to her and all my dear friends in Newcastle.
Farewell, farewell in our blessed Lord Jesus. And welcome Lord
Jesus, for whom I suffer, and whose love I long to have in possession.
Welcome heaven and holy angels, and the spirits of just men made

;8o

A Cloud of Witnesses.

perfect, through the blood of the Lamb. Welcome Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, into whose hands I commit my Spirit.
" Sic subscribitur,

"THOMAS ROBERTSON."

James Nicol.

AMES NICOL was a merchant burgess in Peebles. He
was in arms at the battle of Bothwell Bridge, but had
hitherto escaped capture, although he seems to have been
in the list of those sought after by the government. He was in
Edinburgh, August 15, 1684, and was present at the trial of Thomas
Harkness, Andrew Clark, and Samuel M'Ewen, whose Testimonies
are given in a subsequent page, where his spirit was roused to anger
at the haste with which they were tried and condemned to death.

After the trial he was taking his horse in the Grassmarket to leave
for home, when the guard came down with the three martyrs for
execution. He delayed his departure, and joined the crowd to
witness the execution. As he was coming away, he loudly cried out
against the cruelty that had been perpetrated. He was immediately
laid hold of and carried to prison. On the i8th, and again on the
19th, he was brought before the Privy Council. On the 20th he says
he was before the Justiciary. On the 2 2d he was indicted for treason,
and was finally tried, Wednesday, August 27.

The proof against him was his own confession that he was at
Bothwell with arms, that he owns Sanquhar Declaration, and the
paper published at Rutherglen. He was hanged that day between
two and four in the afternoon, along with William Young from Evan-
dale, a good man, but somewhat crazed in mind, who had been
condemned on still less ground ; for the chief points in his confession
were that he had heard Donald Cargill, and that if he had been old
enough he had been at Bothwell. James Nicol's examination must
have struck Daniel Defoe; for, in his Memoir of the Church of Scot-

James Nicol. 387

land, it is given with much the same fulness as in the " Cloud of
Witnesses." He calls him another of these sufferers who cannot be
forgotten when we are recording the zeal of the Church of Scotland's
Martyrs, who, in imitation of the primitive zeal of the first centuries,
offered himself to the sacrifice, without any one laying hand on
him.

Fountainhall's notice of James Nicol is very different from De-
foe's. It is : " 15th August, — Three of the rebels taken at Enterkin
sentenced to be hanged; the Council resolves, that any condemned
for Both well, disowning the king's authority, or any other treason,
shall be allowed but three hours, and [be] executed the same day
sentence is pronounced. At their execution there was one Nicol
looking on (he was once a chapman, and had been at Bothwell),
who cried to the hangman he would do him a mischief; who being
taken, was examined, boldly disclaimed the king, owned the Cove-
nant, and was condemned to be hanged, 27th ditto, for his being at
Bothwell."

Mr Livingstone, mentioned by James Nicol, was John Livingstone,
so well known from his connection with the revival at the Kirk of
Shotts. John Howie has a life of him in the " Scots Worthies." The
share he had in bringing home Charles H. from Holland in 1650, is
fully detailed by himself in his " Brief Historical Relation of his own
Life," in the Wodrow Society's Select Biographies.

The Coronation Sermon is that preached by Robert Douglas,
when Charles H. was crowned at Scone in 1651. It is a discourse
remarkable for its boldness, and the utterance of constitutional prin-
ciples, that must have been extremely distasteful to a monarch so
fond of arbitrary power as Charles soon proved himself to be. The
Sermon has been several times reprinted. The last occasion seems
to have been in a i2mo volume of " Several remarkable and valuable
Sermons, Speeches, and Exhortations, at the Renewing and Subscrib-
ing the National Covenant and Solemn League," published in 1741,
with a preface by Ebenezer Erskine of Stirling.

James Russel, spoken of in the close of James Nicol's testimony,
troubled the Societies very early in their history. Michael Shields, in
his account of the third general meeting held at Tala Linn, Twceds-
muir, June 15, 1682, speaks of him as a man of a hot and fiery
spirit. At this meeting he was for suspending Alexander Gordon of
Earlstoun, because he had accepted the sacrament of baptism to his
child from Alexander Peden, and the contention was so hot that the

388 W Cloud of IVitnesses.

meeting divided, each party taking a different part of the field on
which they had met. This divisive spirit Russei kept up. He
withdrew from association with Ren wick and the great majority of
the Societies, and did his utmost to oppose their measures both at
home and abroad.

Mr John FUnt was sent out by the Societies to Holland in No-
vember 1682, in order to complete his education for the ministry.
He went to the University of Groningen. While there, he quarrelled
with Renwick. He did all he could to prevent his ordination, in
which he failed, and he ever afterwards continued a bitter enemy to
him. He was ordained at Lasswade 1688. After two calls he was
translated to the New North Church, Edinburgh, Oct. 25, 1709. He
was a correspondent of Wodrow, chiefly on the subject of the Abjura-
tion Oath, about which he had scruples. He was evidently a man
of some learning. He assisted, when in Holland, in bringing out the
Dutch edition of the " Synopsis Criticorum " of Poole. Boston sent
himi his " Fourfold State" to revise, and his " Essay of the Accentua-
tion of the Hebrew Bible." Wodrow says, " His book in Latin against
Mi Simson as to the process betwixt him and Mr Webster, shows
his reading and knowledge of the Arminian controversy, and that he
was a pious, warm-hearted, useful minister." He died in his 71st
year, Jan. 19, 1730.

It will be noticed that the passages of Scripture quoted are con-
siderably different from the text of the authorised version. They
seem to have been quoted from memory. — Ed.]

> ■^♦^ <

,«.,

:■ HE TESTIMONY of James Nicol, merchant, Burgess
of Peebles, who suffered at the Grassraarket of Edin-
"^m^JAlw^^' burgh, August 27, 1684.
J

His Interrogations before the Privy Council,
August 18.

7 " First, I was interrogated by two in a room

privately, thus :

Q. " Were you at Bothwell Bridge?

James Nicol. 389

A. *•' I am not bound to be my own accuser.

" I am not," said one of them, " to desire you ; but only say upon
your honest word, that you were not there ?

A. "I am not bound to satisfy you ; but prove what you have to
say against me, and especially you, till I come before my accusers.
' Well,' said he, ' I am one of them.' Then I answered, ' I was there.'

Q. " How came you to rise in arms against the king ?

A. " Because he has broken the Covenant of the Lord my God.

Q. " Was the Prelate's death murder ?

A. " No, it was not murder.

Q. " Was Hackston's death murder ?

A. " That it was, indeed.

Q. " How dare you own the Covenant, seeing the king gave
orders to burn it by the hand of the hangman ?

A. " Yes, I dare own it ; for although ye should escape the hand
of men for so doing, yet ye shall all pay for it, ere all be done, and
to purpose. As for me, I would not do it for the whole earth.

" Then I was interrogated by other two, who asked some frivo-
lous questions which I baffled to silence.

" Then I was brought in before the bloody crew.

" What now, sir, "said they, " Do ye own the king's authority?

A. " I own all things that the precious Word of God owns in less
or more, and all faithful magistrates.

Q. " But do you not own King Charles also ?

A. " I dare not for a world ; because it is perjury ; for he has
unkinged himself in a high degree, and that in doing all things con-
trary to the Word of God, and Confession of Faith, and Catechisms
Larger and Shorter.

Q. " Know ye to whom ye are speaking?

A "I know I am before men.

" But," said one of them, " ye are speaking to the Chancellor and
members of Council, sir.

" But," said I, " I have told you already that he has unkinged
himself, and so have you degraded yourselves from being princes.

Q. " If the king were here, what would you say, sir ?

A. " I know how I ought to speak to the king if he were king.
' Sir,' is ordinarily said to him, and so to let you know that I am no
Quaker, or erroneous in anything, but a pure Presbyterian, and of a
Gospel apostolic spirit, I call you ' sirs,' because ye are noblemen by
birth, but not because ye are my judges.

390 A Cloud of lVil7iesses.

O. " Will ve not say, God bless the king's majesty?

A. " I dare not bless them whom God hath rejected : ' If any
man bring another doctrine than ye have received, bid him not God-
speed, nor receive him into your house,' 2 John 10; and Ps. xvi.,
near the beginning, says David, * Their drink-offerings will I not
offer, nor take up their very names in my lips' (viz., them that hasten
aftei other gods), and therefore I dare not pray for him.

Q. " And will ye not pray for him ?

A. " If he belongs to the election of grace, he has a part of my
prayers. And also, if he were a king that had kept Covenant with
God, I would give him a double share, and make mention of his
name ; but he is an apostate.

" So, my friends, they looked still one to another at every question
and answer.

Q. " How old are you, sir ?

A ''I am fifty-one years.

Q. " How dare you own the Covenants, seeing we have burnt
tliem by the hand of the hangman?

A. " I dare own them upon all perils whatsoever to the utmost of
m> power, all the days of my life." And with that they smiled and
laughed one to another, and to me, and said, * My days were near an
end.' I said, * I am now in your power, but if ye take my blood, ye
shall take innocent blood upon yourselves, as in Jer. xxvi. 14, 15,
" As for me, I am in your hand ; do with me as seemeth good and
meet unto you ; but know for certain, that if ye put me to death ye
shall bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and on this city and the
inhabitants thereof.' And as for me, if ye take my blood, it is as
innocent blood as ever ye did take, for I did never wrong any man
to this day.

Q. " Do you go to the Church ?

A. " I went aye to the Church where I could get any faithful
minister to go to : but for your Prelates' kirks, and Baal's priests, I
never heard any of them, nor ever intend to do, if I were to live an
hundred years.

" But (said they) ye shall not live long now, sir. How do ye
prove by the Scripture what you say against Prelates ?

A. " By many Scriptures, ' The kings of the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are
called benefactors ; but it shall not be so among you : but he that is
greatest among you, shall be the servant of all ;' not like your glutton,

James Nicol. 391

Epicurean, belly-god Prelates, who are riding in coaches in great
pomp.' But they would not suffer me to speak more, nor cite more
places, but asked several questions which I have not got memory of;
only this word I said, concerning the tyrant, " He was brought home
by Mr Livingstone and others, and put in a nobler estate than any
king in the whole world, crowned a covenanted king with the eternal
God to be for him, and to carry on His work and cause, he and all
the people ; which if he had continued in, he would have been the
greatest king in all lands and nations in the world, and would have
been a terror to all the kings in Europe ; but now he hath made him-
self base, and a reproach to all the nations, so have all you ; and
another reason why I dare not own him nor you either is, because he
and you have robbed Christ of His crown, although it be not in your
power to do it."

" They bade take me away to the iron house, and put on the irons
on me, which they did on both my hands, that I could write none
that day, till 1 got a mean to put them off the one hand.

" Then on Tuesday they called me before them again, being the
19th day of this instant.

Q. " What say ye the day [/>., to-day] ? Do you adhere to all ye
said yesterday ?

A. " I adhere to all and haill {i.e., whole] upon all perils what-
somever.

Q. "Do ye approve of Bothwell Bridge?

A. " Yes, I do.

Q. " Do you go to the kirk at Peebles ?

A. " No, nor never intend to go there, nor no place else which
pertains to the perjured Prelates.

Q. " Do you own the Covenants ?

A. " I adhere to every point of them, because they are in short
an obligation to the whole sum of Scripture, as the sum of the law is
' to love the Lord our God with all our soul, and heart, and mind,
and with our whole strength, and our neighbour as ourselves : ' so it
is the whole duty which the Lord requires of me and all men.

Q. "And how do you reject the king, seeing the Scripture com-
mands you to obey him ?

A. " Because the coronation sermon, and the coronation itself
do openly declare, that the people make a king, and not the king
a people, and that he was received home, and crowned for no other
thing nor end, but to maintain that interest to the utmost of his

392 A Cloud of Witnesses.

power ; and no longer to be owned as king, than he did own that
wherefore lie was crowned ; so that we were freely loosed from him,
. as soon as he played his base pranks, in taking the malignants by
the hand, and murdering a prince and a prophet, viz., Argyle, who
set the crown upon his head, and Mr Guthrie, who was a godly
reformer in our land." Next I said, " What thought they of Mr
Douglas, who preached and gave him all his injunctions at Scone?

"They said to me, He should have been hanged for his pains.

" But I said, God would be about \_i.e., deal] with them all fot
rejecting the Word of the Lord in these directions.

Q. " How do ye disown him, seeing the most part both of
ministers and professors do pray for him.

A. " Because the General Assembly at the West Kirk disowned
him altogether, till he made a declaration of humiliation for his own
sins and his father's. And the Parliament being then sitting at Edin-
burgh did ratify the Assembly's act, and disowned him till he should
do that, which accordingly he did, and so we are loosed freely.

Q. " Do ye own Airsmoss, Sanquhar, Rutherglen, and Lanark
Declarations ?

A. " Yes, I do ; because they are agreeable to the Covenants and
work of Reformation." And many more questions they asked, which
I cannot now particularly remember, but I told them in general that
I was against Popery, Prelacy, malignancy and profanity, and all that
is against sound doctrine, discipline, worship and government ; and
all errors whatsomever, which are contrar)^ to sound Presbyterian
doctrine, be what they will; for there is none other right, but
erroneous, how fair a face soever they have, which shall be found
not agreeable to the Apostle's doctrine.

" And then they read something of which I had said, and ques-
tioned if I would subscribe what I had said. 1 answered. No.

Q. " Can ye write ? Yes, I can wTite. Then do it, said they :
But I said, I would not do it at all.

" Now, my friends, I say, these are a part of my interrogations.

" Again, I was brought before the Justiciar)^ (as the)- call them-
selves), on the 20th of this instant, and interrogated thus :

Q. " What, now, sir, what think ye of yourself the day ?

A. " I praise my God I am the same I was.

Q. " What think ye of what ye said yesterday before the Chan-
cellor and the Council ?

A. "I hold all, and decline nothing : No, not one ace.

James Nicol. 393

Q. " Were ye at Bothwell Bridge ?

A. " Yes, that I was.

Q. " Had ye anus ?

A. "■ Yes, that I had.

"One of them said, ' God help you,' And I said, 'I\vot[/.^.,
know] not if ye can pray for yourself.' But, said he, ' I wish you better
nor [i.e., than] ye do yourself But I said. No ; for ye would have
me disown my great Lord, the King of Zion, and obey men, yea, base
men, whose breath is in their nostrils, who give out laws and com-
mandments contrary to His.

Q. " How dare ye rise in arms against the king?

A. " It is better to obey God than man, and he is an enemy to
God.

Q. "■ Would ye rise yet in arms for the Covenants against the
king's laws, if ye had the occasion ?

A. " Yes, that I would, say the contrary who will, upon all peril.

Q. "What think ye of yourself in spoiling the country of horse
and arms, sir ?

A. " Sir, I had not the worth of a spur whang [i.e., thong or strap]
of any man's, but was mounted of horse and arms of my own.

Q. " Where have ye been all this time ?

A. " Sometimes here and there, in England and Scotland.

Q. " Whom have ye conversed with ?

A. " I was about my business, being a merchant.

" They said. Ye have been about another business ; for ye are
found to be a fugitive and a vagabond.

A. " I have been a merchant from my youth.

Q. "■ But where had ye your chamber in this town ?

A. "I had none these several years.

Q. " Where quarter ye in this town ?

A. " I have not been much in it these seven or eight years.

Q. " But where were ye the night and the last night before the
execution ?

A. " I was not in town ; I came but in at the port [i.e., gate] just
when the first was cast over.

" Then they looked one to another, and whispered together. But
they would fain have had me wronging my landlords in all the parts
of the country, and in all burghs ; but glory to my Lord, I have
wronged none yet, nor yet hope to do, for it was aye my care, and
prayer to God earnestly, that I might wrong no man, and that I

394 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

had rather sufter before any were wronged by me, which He has kept
me from to this day. Then they read what I had said.

Q. " Will \'e subscribe what ye have said ?

A. " No, no.

Q. " Can ye write, sir ?

A. " Yes, that 1 can.

" Well, said they, write down that he can, but will not.

" They told me five or six times that my time should not be long,
and said to rae, Will ye have a minister ?

A. " I will have none of your Baal's priests.

" If I could have gotten leave, I should have made them abominable
to them, and also at every (juestion liwould have made them ashamed."

After relating the occasion of his being apprehended, which was
thus : he, having seen tliree of his dear Christian brethren condemned
before the Justiciary, at ten in the forenoon, and going to the West
l^ort to take horse, was obliged to stay till his saddle was mended ;
when he was ready to mount his horse, he hears that the three men
were brought to the place of execution ; at two afternoon he went
thither, and seeing the barbarity of the enemies in murdering his dear
brethren, moved with a strong zeal against these murderers, cried out,
in the style of the prophet Amos, " A cow of Bashan has pushed three
men to death at one push, contrary to their own base laws, in an in-
human way;" he subjoins, "Therefore, cease to kill me with your
reproaches when I am dead, as ye did while I was living ; for ye
laboured to kill and murder my name this many a year, which I for-
give you with all my heart, and pray the Lord may forgive you." And
having related how that upon the 2 2d day of August, one brought
him his indictment, withal telling him, that upon the 27th he would
be sentenced, and go immediately from the bencli to the scaffold ;
he adds —

" Now, my dear friends, I think all I have written is confused,
because I could hardly get leave to write two lines, but was either
put from it by the keepers, or called from it by one confusion or
other, therefore ye must excuse me ; but although it be not accurately
written, yet there is no error in it. It is what I lay down my life for,
and adhere to as the testimony of a dying man, who must very shortly
appear before my Lord, and give an account of all that I have done
and written. However, my friends, mistake me not, although it be
confused, and ye find some things twice over ; for there is no more
fear on me now, than the quietest time that ever I had, as to what

James NicoL 395

man can do to me ; although I be sad as to matters betwixt God and
me, betwixt my glorious Lord and me, as good cause I have, who
knew it as I do ; but I hope, I shall get a glorious outgate [/>., de-
liverance] when His time comes, which I have always waited upon
(and not mine) for which I bless Him this day."

What further this martyr wrote in prison, cannot be published as
it stands, in regard that, he being perpetually interrupted by the
keepers, and having the irons on his hands (as himself testifies) could
not get it written with that composure which he would. Wherefore,
take some of the more remarkable heads of it, mostly in his own
words :

1. He declares his cheerfulness to lay down his life for the cause
of Christ, and faith once delivered to the saints ; admiring the riches
of the free grace of God, in Christ's laying down His life for poor
sinners, and blessing them with such a noble, precious and excellent
blessing, as to be called the sons of God, which the angels cannot
take up, though they have been a long time prying into it ; and invites
others to the same exercise of admiring and praising God's love, in
making, through the blood of Christ, rebels and enemies, friends and
servants.

2. He rejoices in his lot of suffering, thus, " Oh ! but it be an
excellent thing to be called of the Lord, to lay down my life for Him
and His glorious interest ! To me it is more than all the world : I
cannot prize it. It has been my desire these twenty-four years to
die a martyr for my Lord, and to witness for Him, if it be His will,
and not else. I bless my Lord for it, I have subscribed a blank, and
put it in His hand, to do with me whatsoever is the determinate
counsel of His will and decree, and not to call myself.'

3. He blesses God, that though he would have got his life for
doing what others, whom he calls better than himself, have done,
yet the Lord had made it his glory, honour, and crown, to hold fast
till the Lord come, which he hoped would be quickly, to himself, and
also to the land.

4. He testifies his assurance of God's love to him, and his chil-
dren, whom he heartily and cheerfully gives away to God, as he had
oft devoted them to Him in covenant ; he exhorts them in the words
of a dying father, to be for God in their generation, to live in love
and unity, leaving them to the protection and provision of His God,
charging them not to be moved for his suff"erings, which he protests
he would not exchange for the whole world.

>g6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

5. He charges them all to beware of \vronging themselves by
reproaching him anent the manner of his being apprehended, showing
what a hand of divine Providence there was in it, and blessing God
for it, and for the sweet peace he had in suffering.

6. He owns himself to have been the greatest sinner upon the
earth, and hence takes occasion to magnify the redeeming love of
Christ, in calling him effectually, and keeping him in the right way,
and from the national sins and corruptions of the age.

7. He refers to a list of papers written by him, declarative of
his judgment concerning the duty of the day, as a reason, among
others, why he wrote no formal testimony in the prison ; save only
that he testifies, First, generally against all things contrary to any
point of truth in the Old and New Testament, or contradictory to
the Covenants and work of Reformation ; and more particularly,
against the sinful silence of ministers in Britain and Ireland, at the
command of a bloody, vile, adulterous, perjured tyrant and his under-
lings; against the indulgences and indemnities ; against componing
\i.e., compounding or settling] and conforming either with a per-
jured tyrannical crew of statesmen, or with base, vile, filthy Prelatists,
their blind guides, and Baal's priests ; against backslidden ministers
and professors, who condemned a poor young generation for adhering
to truth, for slaying Christ in His members, for pleasing men, and dis-
pleasing a never enough exalted and glorious Lord ; and, finally,
disowns all that is contrary to a Gospel and apostolic spirit.

8. He proceeds to warn and exhort all sorts of persons, and
more especially the young generation, to repentance and amendment
of life, enforcing his exhortation with the consideration of judgments
and strokes to come upon the land ; upon which head he is exceeding
large, founding his assertions upon the threatenings pronounced in the
Word against these sins, wherein he demonstrates Scotland, England,
and Ireland to have been eminently guilty ; interposing withal sweet
and ravishing considerations of God's love to him, and to his other
suffering witnesses, which, after large and pathetic ejaculations of
praises to God for His redeeming love, protesting, that he expects
salvation not by any merit, but of free grace, saying, '' I have been
beginning to pray and praise these thirty-six years, weakly as I could,
but yet 1 am just to begin this night, both to praise and pray; for I
lay no more stress upon all that I have said and done, believed and
suffered, nor {i.e., than] on a straw, God is my witness ; so that I must
have salvation upon Wednesday at three or four of the clock, as freely

James Nicol. 397

as the thief on the cross." He winds up in imitation of David, with
these words, "And what can poor silly [/>., feeble] James Nicol say
more !" resuming again the consideration of God's wrath against the
land, to stir up all ranks to repentance.

After he has concluded his speech with the usual formality of
bidding farewell to all his suffering brethren, and all sublunary things,
embracing and welcoming the heavenly joys, and eternal enjoyment
of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands he com-
mits his spirit ; he adds, by way of postscript :

" Now, dear friends, my Testimony being finished, and I being
near the borders of eternity, having forgot that which I see^a great
necessity to leave my testimony against, I think it a most concerning
and necessary duty to leave my testimony against J[ames] R[ussel]
and Mr J[ohn] F[lint], because J[ames] R[ussel],^and these in fellow-
ship with him, have separated themselves from the persecuted suffering
remnant of the Church of Scotland, and Mr J[ohn] F[lint] has taken
upon him, with their consent, to officiate the work of a minister, con-
trary to the Word of God ; he has run, although not sent of God, nor
called, nor ordained of lawful church members. And now he and
they have risen up in opposition to God, His cause and persecuted
remnant in the Church of Scotland, calling them all perjured that are
suffering unto death, imprisonment, and banishment for precious
Christ. And therefore, I, as a dying witness for Him, even my Lord
Jesus, my only Saviour, who converted me thirty-six years since, and
has these twenty-four years helped me to pray to Him, to enable me
to witness against all error, and defection, and has kept me right and
straight to this day of my longed-for desire, do leave my witness and
testimony against Mr J[ohn] F[lint] and J[ames] R[ussel], and all that
adhere to them."

John Dick.

OHN DICK was the son of David Dick, writer in Edin-
burgh. He took his degree at the University, and was
studying Divinity. In his examination, he says he was not
at Pentland, but being discovered to have friends who knew James
Mitchell, who shot at Archbishop vSharp, July ii, 1668, he found it
advisable for a time to leave Scotland. He was not at Drumclog,
but was present in arms at Bothwell Bridge.

He was seized at Edinburgh at the information of a poor woman,
bribed to tell where he was, and who after his execution lost her
reason. He was examined August 29, 1683, and again on the 31st,
before the committee of public affairs.

He was tried, September 4, before the Lords of Justiciary, and
condemned to be hanged at the Grassmarket on the 26th. On Sep-
tember 16, he, with twenty-four others, made his escape from the
Canongate Tolbooth, as is narrated in the following note upon
Thomas Harkness. The days that immediately followed he seems
to have employed in writing his testimony, for its forty-ninth page
is dated October i, 1683.

He was again apprehended on the beginning of March 1684, and
on the fourth day of the month was brought before the Lords of
Justiciary, and was handed over to the magistrates to be hanged in
the Grassmarket next day, between two and four in the afternoon.

Wodrow gives the following letter, written to his father on the
morning that he suffered. It says much for his faith and hope :

" Dear Sir, — This hath been one of the pleasantest nights I
have had in my lifetime. The competition is only betwixt it and
that I got eleven years ago at Nesbit in Northumberland, where and
when, in a barley ridge upon the Saturday's night and Sabbath morn-
ing before the last communion I did partake of in Ford Church, the
Lord firmly laid the foundation-stone of grace in my heart, by making
me with my whole soul close with Him upon His own terms, that is,

John Dick. 399

to take Him to be my King, Priest, and Prophet, yea, to be my all
in all ; to renounce my own righteousness, which at best is but rotten
rags, and to rest upon His righteousness alone for salvation ; as also,
to give myself entirely, without reserve, in soul, body, heart, affec-
tions, and the whole faculties of my soul and powers of my body, to
be by Him disposed at His pleasure for the advancement of His
glory, and the upbuilding of my own soul, and the souls of others ;
inserting this clause (being conscious to myself of great infirmity)
that the fountain of free grace and love should stand open for me
so long, and so oft as my case should call for it.

" This my transaction with my ^whole soul, without the least
ground of suspicion of the want of sincerity, which I found had been
amissing in endeavours of that nature formerly, now my blessed Lord
helped me to, or rather made in me, and solemnised that night and
morning ere I came off that ridge.

" I confirmed it no less than ten or twelve times, and the oftener
I reiterated, the gale continued so fresh and vigorous, that I was
forced to cry, Hold, Lord, for the sherd is like to burst : so that I
hope my dearest Lord is now a-coming, and that the hands of Zerub-
babel, who hath laid this foundation, is now about to finish it ; and,
indeed, He is building very fast, for which my soul blesseth Him,
desiring you may join with me in so necessary a work.

" I hope, ere long, the copestone shall be put on, the result of all
which shall be praises and shouting to Him that sits upon the throne,
and to the Lamb throughout all the ages of eternity, of long-lasting
eternity.

" This, with my earnest prayers while in the body, that the Lord
would help you to mind His glory, and your OAvn soul's eternal
welfare, is all the legacy you can expect from him who is both,

" Your affectionate son and Christ's prisoner,

"John Dick.

" I'.S. — I hope, ere I come home, to get another sight of you.
Let none see this till I be in my grave. The Lord gave me to you
freely, so I entreat you, be frank in giving me to Him again, and the
more free this be, the less cause you shall have to repent."

The last words he uttered upon the scaffold, as reported in the
close of his Testimony, have the same confidence in the Redeemer :

" And now I know, yea, I am firmly persuaded, that my dear
Lord, even my exalted and glorified Lord Jesus Christ, w'ill carry me
safely through this dark valley and shadow of death, and will receive

400 A Cloud oj Witnesses.

my soul immediately after I go off this ladder unto glory, where I
shall be ever with Him.

Then he said again, crying with a loud voice : " Now when I can
hardly get speaking for the rope about my neck, farewell all friends
and followers of Christ ; and again I say, farewell and adieu all
earthly enjoyments." And so, having given the hangman a sign when
he would be ready, he prayed a little within himself, and when he
had done, he gave the sign, and at the giving thereof, he drew the
napkin over his face and cried out, " Farewell all friends in Christ,
and into thy hands, O Lord, I commit my soul." So he was turned
over. And so ended the life of this faithful and now glorified martyr
for Christ. And to God the Father, Son, and Blessed Spirit, be
eternal praise and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The testimony of John Dick is a quarto of fifty-eight closely-
printed pages. It is without a date. It is simply said to have been

" printed in the year ." It bears to have been left to a particular

friend to communicate to the world after his death, but which was
never published " till now, at the desire of some real and sincere
lovers of the true peace and welfare of the Church of Scotland." — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

i|PON the 5th of March, 1684, suff"ered that worthy gentleman,
Mr John Dick, studentof Theology, whose elaborate and judi-
cious testimony had been here inserted, but that it has been
lately published in print by itself, and so is in a great many people's
hands already, and the reader may have recourse to the said print for
it; which, upon perusal, he will find second to none, for a steady
zeal and adherence to the Reformation ; an orderly method, pithy
and pertinent defences against the cavils of the adversaries, and pro-
per and necessary advices to fellow-sufferers, abating only his adher-
ence to Hamilton Declaration, wherein he seems to differ from the
rest of the sufferers of that time ; and owning the king's authority,
which yet he does in such a limited and restricted sense, as thereby
not to own the wicked laws, and exercise thereof; though it is true
the reflections and limitations with which he declared his owning
it, were such as did noways agree to the tyrant, and consequently
it was a real, though not a formal denial thereof Only in the said
printed Testimony, there are several errors of the transcriber, or the
press, which the judicious reader will not impute to the author.

Thomas Harkness, Andre^v Clark,
Samuel M'Evv^en.

HO MAS HARKNESS of Locherben, a wild retreat among
the hills in the parish of Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, had
been attached to the persecuted Presbyterians from his
youth. To escape persecution he and his brother James found U
prudent to take refuge in Ireland. Here, however, they did not long
remain, but returned again to Scotland to their native district, where
their enemies soon came to know them, and gave (says Dr Simpson
in his " Gleanings among the Mountains") James, the name of " Hark-
ness with the long gun," and Thomas, " Harkness with the white hose."
So much was James esteemed, that Claverhouse repeatedly attempted,
by means of his emissaries, to gain him over to the royal forces, by the
promise of a captaincy, but he remained steadfast. At last he and a
number of his friends were, sometime in 1683, surprised by a party of
dragoons and carried to Edinburgh. Here they were imprisoned in the
Canongate Tolbooth, but on the i6th of September, they and others,
twenty-five in all, made their escape. The window of their prison
was cross-barred with iron ; one bar was cut, but the space was not
large enough, and other three had to be removed. This took them a
long time and much labour, while they were constantly expecting to
be discovered ; but, although a sentry paced on the street below (they
were on the third storey), the noise of the sawing was never heard.
About nine o'clock at night, when the first bar had just been cut, it
slipped out of the cutter's hand, and fell on the street. They thought
all was now over, but the bar lay on the street all night, till a friend
coming past in the morning picked it up, and contrived to get it sent
to them. When their preparations were completed, a beam in the
tloor above them was cut, and its inmates got down. As they were
coming out from the window, two friends overpowered the sentmel,
and threatened him with death if he spoke. All escaped, and though
some of them were strangers to Edinburgh, they got safe away, and
not one of them, with the exception of John Dick, was ever agam

402 A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

caught. Dr Simpson tells of a visit which James Harkness and his
companions made, as they were going homewards, at Biggar, upon
the leader of the party who had taken them to Edinburgh ; how
they made him prisoner ; and how, by giving him his life when in
their hands, he was won over to their side, and altogether left the
ranks of the persecutor. He tells also of a successful disguise that
James Harkness assumed when a body of soldiers came to his house
under the forced guidance of a neighbouring proprietor. They took
him for the servant rather than the master, and the mistake was not
discovered until he was out of their reach. It was he who planned
the successful rescue at Enterkin Pass in the close of July or the be-
ginning of August 1684, so graphically told by Defoe in his " Memoirs
of the Church of Scotland." He lived to survive the Revolution.

There is no reason to believe that, deeply concerned as James
Harkness was in the rescue at Enterkin, his brother Thomas had
any share in it at all. Some days after Claverhouse and a company
of soldiers were searching the neighbourhood, and when in the parish
of Closeburn or Dalgerno, they came upon Thomas Harkness, Andrew
Clark, Samuel M'Ewen, and Thomas Wood. It is said they were
sleeping, and when roused up by the soldiers they were for running
away, when they were pursued, shot at, and wounded. Their wounds
the soldiers would not allow to be washed nor dressed. A poor
woman, who came and offered her aid to dress them, the soldiers seized
and carried prisoner part of the way. They were taken first to Lanark
and then to Edinburgh. On the way, they came to a narrow pass
where Claverhouse feared he might be attacked, and he ordered the
soldiers, as soon as any one appeared in sight, to kill the prisoners,
although they had confessed nothing, and nothing had been proved
against them.

When brought before the Council, three of the soldiers affirmed
that the prisoners were at Enterkin, and that there they had received
their wounds. But both of these charges they constantly denied.
Thomas Wood was reserved till a later occasion, but his three associates
were taken from the Council to the Court of Justiciary that very day.
They were charged with high treason, " in as far as in this month of
August they had engaged with a party of the king's soldiers ; that they
did not own the king's authority, or denied it ; that they refused to call
Bothwell rebellion ; that they had conversed with persons put to the
horn ; and that they had conversed one of them with another, being
rebels." Three soldiers affirmed they had snapped guns at them.

Thomas Harkness, etc. 403

This was all the evidence brought, against them. Nevertheless, the
assize found them guilty of being in arms, and that one of them pre-
sented a gun to the king's forces, that they had ball upon them, that
they had conversed with rebels, denied authority, and fled from his
majesty's forces ; and they were sentenced to be hanged at the Grass-
market. The sentence was carried into effect with the greatest haste,
for they were examined before the Council, tried, and executed all in
the same day.

Patrick Walker says, Thomas Harkness was within thirty years of
age, Andrew Clark nineteen, and Samuel M'Ewen seventeen. Andrew
Clark was a smith in Leadhills, brother to x\dam Clark of Glenim, a
Covenanter too, whose escapes from his enemies Dr Simpson has
chronicled. Of Samuel M'Ewen nothing seems to be known further
than he himself tells in his letter. Both the joint testimony and the
letter are short, but they are remarkable for their cheerful, pious spirit,
and for the fearlessness with which death is looked forward to. They
were added in the third edition. In the first edition, the compilers say,
that owing to the persecutors' cruelty, leave may not have been got to
write any testimony, or, if written, it has not come into their hands.

Wodrow gives the 5th of August, as the date of their execution,
which he says is the date of the registers, but other papers make it
the 15th, the date of the " Cloud," and also that of Patrick Walker.

It will be noticed, that the chronological arrangement, characteristic
of the volume, from the Testimony of David Hackston, p. 39, to that
of John Nisbet. p. 288, which has been slightly departed from in the
Testimony beginning with John Wilson, is again resumed. — Ed.]

PON the 15th of August 1684, Thomas Harkness in Loch-
erben, Andrew Clark in Leadhills in Crawford parish,
Samuel M'Ewen in Glencairn parish, Thomas Wood in
Kirkmichael, were all indicted of the crimes of treason and rebellion,
for being at the rescue of their dear brethren at Enterkin, for refusing
to own the king's authority, as the same was established by the laws,
in regard he had usurped Christ's prerogative, and broken the Cove-
nant, and for not praying for him in the terms prescribed by the
Council, for their maintaining the Iawfulne.ss of defensive arms, and
finally for adhering to the covenanted work of Reformation against
the king's laws, — as their indictment bears at large.

404 A Cloud of Witnesses.

HE JOINT TESTIMONY of Thomas Harkness in
Locherben, Andrew Clark in Leadhills, in Crawford
parish, and Samuel M'Ewen in Glencairn parish, who
were sentenced, and suffered at Edinburgh, August 15,
1684.

" Dear Friends and Relations whatsoever, —
AV^e think it fit to acquaint you, that we bless the Lord,
that ever we were ordained to give such a pubhc testimony, who are
so great sinners. Blessed be He that ever we were born to bear
witness for Him ; and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ that ordained
the Gospel and the truths of it, which He sealed with His own blood,
and many a worthy Christian gone before us hath sealed them. We
were questioned for not owning the king's authority. We answered,
that we owned all authority that is allowed by the written Word of God,
sealed by Christ's blood. Now, our dear friends, we entreat you to
stand to the truth, and especially all ye that are our own relations, and
all that love and wait for the coming of Christ. He will come and
not tarry, and reward every one according to their deeds in the body.
" We bless the Lord, we are not a whit discouraged, but content
to lay down our life with cheerfulness, and boldness, and courage ; and
if we had a hundred lives, we would willingly quit with them all for the
truth of Christ. Good news ! Christ is no worse than He promised.
" Now we take our leave of all friends and acquaintances, and
declare we are heartily content with our lot, and that He hath brought
us hither to Avitness for Him and His truth, ^^^e leave our testimony
against Popery, and all other false doctrine, that is not according to
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which is the only Word
of God.

" Dear friends, be valiant for God, for He is as good as His pro-
mise, ' he that overcometh, He will make a pillar in His temple.'
Our time is short, and we have little to spare \ having got our sentence
at one of the clock this afternoon, and "are to die at five this day.
And so we say no more ; but farewell all friends and relations. And
welcome heaven and Christ, and the cross for Christ's sake.

"THOMAS HARKNESS.

"ANDREW CLARK.

"SAMUEL M'EWEN."

James Lawson and Alexander Wood.

405

LETTER from Samuel M'Ewen to a friend, after his
sentence was pronounced.

" My Dear Friend, — I am this day to lay down
my life, for adhering to the truth of God, and I bless
His holy name that ever He honoured me, a poor
country lad, having neither father nor mother alive, to
witness for Him. And now I can set to my seal to all
the truths in the Bible, Confession of Faith, Catechisms Larger and
Shorter, National and Solemn League and Covenant, and all the
Protestations and Declarations given by the poor remnant, agreeable
to the same Word of God. Though in much weakness, yet I love all
that is for His glory, and desire to hate all that He hates with a
perfect hatred. I desire you not to be discouraged, for I bless the
Lord, I am heartily content with my lot. It was my desire, though
most unworthy, to die a martyr, and I bless the Lord, who has
granted me my desire Now, this is the most joyful day that ever I
saw with mine eyes.

" Farewell all earthly enjoyments and friends in our sweet Lord
Jesus Christ. And farewell Glencairn, my native parish. Welcome,
my sweet Saviour ; into Thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou art
He, O Jehovah, God of truth, who hast redeemed me.

"SAMUEL M'EWEN."

James Lawson and Alexander ^Vood.

|F James Lawson and Alexander Wood nothing seems now
known. They are not mentioned by Wodrow. Their
names are on the monument at the Monkland Canal, Castle
Street, Glasgow. Their testimony is of more than usual directness,
simplicitv, and even beauty. — Ed.]

4o6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

HE JOINT-TESTIMONY of James Lawson and
Alexander Wood, who suffered at Glasgow, October
24, 1684.

" Now this is the most joyful day that ever we had
in all our life, and we join our hearty testimony to the
written Word of God, as it is contained in the Old and
New Testaments, and to the Confession of Faith, the
Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Engagement to Duties and
Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins, and to the Covenants, both Na-
tional and Solemn League, and to the Causes of God's Wrath ; and
we also join our hearty testimony to the true and faithful preached
Gospel, by His true and faithful sent ministers, both formerly and of
late, commissioned and clothed with His message to declare the whole
counsel of God, as it was reformed from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism,
and Supremacy.

" We also join our hearty testimony to the testimonies of those
that have gone before us, both formerly and of late, who suffered for
the cause and interest of Jesus Christ ; and likewise to all the appear-
ances of the Lord's people, and their being in arms, for the defence
of the Gospel and self-defence, viz., Pentland, Drumclog, Bothwell
Bridge ; and to the Declarations given at Rutherglen, the 29th of
May 1679, and Sanquhar ; and to the papers found upon Henry Hall
at the Queensferry, and to that Declaration put forth at Lanark, by the
suffering remnant. We also join our hearty testimony to the Christian
fellowship meetings, whereby our souls have sometimes been re-
freshed.

" Now, likewise, we shall show you what we disown —

" First, We disown and leave our testimony against Popery and
Prelacy, Quakerism, Erastianism, and all other errors, that are con-
trary to the Word of God.

" Likewise, we leave our testimony against all the Indulgences,
both first and last ; because they have disowned Christ from being
head of the Church, and have taken their liberty from a mortal
man.

" Likewise, we leave our testimony against all these that have left
the standard of Christ and taken themselves to a sinful quietness, to

James Lawso7i and Alexander Wood. 407

shun suffering ; and also their condemning of these faithful practices
and preaching of these two worthies, who sealed the truth with their
blood, viz., Mr Donald Cargill and Mr Richard Cameron, who de-
clared the whole counsel of God faithfully. We desire to bless the
Lord, that ever we heard them preach.

" Likewise, we leave our testimony against the Declaration at
Hamilton ; because of the taking in of that tyrant's interest. Like-
wise against Charles Stuart, because he hath seated himself in
Christ's room, and has taken to himself the prerogative of our Lord,
to be head of the Church, which belongs to no mortal man on earth,
but to Christ only.

" Likewise, we leave our testimony against that hell-hatched Test,
and against that oath called the Oath of Allegiance, against compear-
ing at courts, and coming out of prison upon bond and caution. Ye
will fijid the unlawfulness of it in John viii. 34, ' Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.' And in
Romans vi. 20 : ' For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free
from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof
ye are now ashamed ? for the end of those things is death.' And
2 Pet ii. 19: 'While they promise them liberty, they themselves are
the servants of corruption : for of whom a man is overcome, of the
same is he brought in bondage.' And against the Cess and Locality,
or paying of militia money, or any other thing which may strengthen
the hands of these open and avowed enemies of Jesus Christ.

" Likewise we leave our testimony against these wicked men
called judges, which ought not to be called judges, but rather tyrants,
because they are thirsting for blood ; for they charge us in one of the
articles of our indictment with murder, and shaking off all the fear of
God ; but we bless the Lord we are free of all such crimes as
murder.

" Now, dear friends, we exhort you to cleave close to Christ,
keep His way, and do not scar [/>., take fright] at it, because of
suffering ; for we can assure you that the cross has not been trouble-
some to us, but easy ; for He paves the cross all over with roses,
and never lays a grain weight of affliction more upon His people
than He gives sufificient strength to bear ; and this we can say by
experience, ' He sends none a warfare upon their own charges,' but
He gives still sufficient strength to carry them through. Therefore
it is our earnest desire and request, that ye will follow on to know
the Lord ; for if ye follow on to know Him, He has promised ' that

4o8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

ye shall know Him.' Therefore, we desire you to follow His way,
and fear not man, whose breath is in his nostrils, but fear God
and keep His ways. Keep at a distance from the least of sin, for the
least sin deserveth death ; but His love hath been great and conde-
scending to us, for He hath taken us who were the vilest of sinners ;
for we had destroyed ourselves by original sin and corrupt nature ;
but now He hath redeemed us, and plucked us like fire-brands out
of the midst of the burning.

" Now, we may say. He hath letten out such a gale of His con-
descending love, that He hath gained our feckless \i.e., feeble] love ;
so that we dare say, that if every hair of our head were a man, and
CA'ery drop of our blood a life, we could willingly lay them all down
for Christ and His cause, if He called for them at our hand ; ' for
He is altogether lovely, the chief among ten thousands,' He is
without compare, He is incomprehensible, glorious, and mighty ;
therefore it is our desire to all friends, that ye would ware [/.(?., ex-
pend] your love on Him, and credit Him, and labour to get the
inheritance made sure, that Jesus Christ hath purchased. Now
cleave close to Him, and close with Him, and then, lose what ye
will in this world, ye shall be noble gainers, and no losers.

*' Now we heartily forgive all men any wrong they have done us,
or can do to us, as we desire to be forgiven of the Lord ; but what
they have done against God [and] His cause, we leave that to Him-
self, to do in it as may most glorify Himself.

" Now, we bid farewell to all earthly comforts and enjoyments.
Farewell all Christian friends and acquaintances in the Lord. Fare-
well sweet societies and Christian fellowship-meetings. Farewell
hearing of the precious Gospel. Farewell reading, singing, praying,
and believing. Farewell sweet prison and irons for our lovely Lord.
Farewell holy Scriptures. Farewell sun, moon, and stars, and all
created comforts in time. Welcome singing of praises. Welcome
spirits of just men made perfect. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, into whose hands we commit our spirits.
" Sic subscribitiir,

"JAMES LAWSON.

" ALEXANDER WOOD."

George Jackson.

EORGE JACKSON belonged to Eastwood parish, in the
neighbourhood of Glasgow. He was at Bothwell Bridge,
and carried a halbert-staff, but he was then only in his
sixteenth year. Sometime in 1683, says Wodrow, this fervent, zealous
countryman was taken at Glasgow, being overheard praymg in a
house. Soon after his apprehension, he was examined, as related in
the interrogations that follow, by Ross, Archbishop of Glasgow. After
examination, he was sent back to prison, where he lay all winter in
irons, and without fire.

In the month of May 1684, he was taken to Edinburgh, where
he was examined before a committee of Council, as he again relates
in his interrogations. For seven more months he lay in prison, until,
December 8, he was tried before the Court of Justiciary. Along
with him were indicted James Graham, whose testimony follows,
Thomas ^^'ood (who was taken along with Thomas Harkness), Thomas
Robertson, and six others.

Their indictment specially charged them with emitting the
Declaration which the Societies had issued the preceding month.
Of this declaration, George Jackson could truly say he knew nothing,
for he had been in prison on December 9. The Lords of Justiciary
found the libel relevant, that the accused own, or refuse to disown, the
traitorous proclamation. The six tried with George Jackson and his
three fellow sufferers disowned the proclamation, and the charge was
deserted against them. The jury found George Jackson and his
three companions guilty, and they were sentenced to be hanged that
day at the Gallowlee, between two and five of the afternoon. Wod-
row says, that Jackson died in much comfort and serenity. — Ed.]

410

A Cioiid of Witnesses.

HE INTERROGATIONS of George Jackson, tenant
to [Sir George Maxwell of Netherj Pollock, who was
'/ apprehended at Glasgow, and suffered at the Gallow-
('' lee, December 9th, 1684.

At Glasgow, after he was taken, and had been

_ asked some few questions by them who apprehended

\' him, he was brought before the Archbishop of Glasgow,

who interrogated him thus :

" What now, Mr Jackson ?"

" I was never a scholar."

" Can you read the Bible ? "

" Yes."

"Were ye at Bothwell Bridge?"

■' Yes."

"What arms had ye?"

"A halbert-staff."

"Were ye an officer?"

" No. I was but sixteen years of age."

" Who was your captain ?"

"A young man."

" How called they him ?"

" I am not bound to give an account to you."

" Were you at Bothwell rebellion, or not?"

" I allow myself in no rebellion against God."

"Whether was it rebellion against the king, or not?

" I have answered that question already."

" Would ye go to it again ?"

" The question is like yourself; I know not."

" Will ye say, God save the king?"

" It is not in my power to save or condemn."

" Will ye pray for him ?"

" I will pray for all within the election of free grace."

" Whether is the king within the election, or not?"

" If you were the man you profess to be, you would not ask
such a question at me ; it belongs only to God."

Q. " Do you own the authority as it is now established ?"

George Jackson. 4 1 1

A. " No ; but I own all authority, so far as it is according to the
written Word of God."

Q. " Do you own the king and inferior magistrates?"

A. " In so far as they are a terror to evil-doers, and a praise to
them that do well."

Q. "Are they not that?"

A. " When the Lord Jesus Christ shall sit judge, they and ye,
and the like of you, will count for it, whether ye be or not?"

Q. " Is the Bishop's death murder or not?"

A. " If your questions be upon those matters that I am not con-
cerned with, I will keep silence."

Then the Archbishop asked him concerning some papers that
were found in the room where he was apprehended ; he refused to
answer any further anent them, having answered the same question
in the guard to these who took him. Whereat the Archbishop,
enraged, said, " Sir, the Boots will make you free." To which the
said George replied, " If my Master think me worthy of them, I will
get them, and if not, it is in His power to preserve me,"

Q. "Will ye subscribe what ye have said?"

A. "No."

Q. " Wherefore will ye not ?"

A. " Because it's an acknowledgment of your unjust laws."

After this he was transported from Glasgow to Evandale, on the
Lord's day. He relates in his letters what sweet joy and consolation
he had by the way. After his having gone about the worship oi
God, in presence of the soldiers, who at first kept on their hats, but
afterwards, ere he had done, discovered [/.<?., uncovered], in came
one Bonsay, their commander, and said, " Prepare you for a bare
horseback to-mon'ow, and your head and feet shall be bound hard
and fast together." George answered, " It is not in your power to
do it." Bonsay said, " I will let you know, it shall be in my power,"
and offered him the king's health ; he refused, saying, " I am not dry to
drink healths, especially on the Lord's night." To-morrow when they
were set on horseback, Bonsay caused sound a trumpet, holding it to
George's ear, and said, "Sound him to hell," at which the martyr smiled.

So they came to Edinburgh upon the 13th of May 1684. Being
called before a committee of the Council, he came with his Bible in
his hand.

The Advocate jeeringly said, "There's him and his Bible. Come
away, let's see where that text is."

412 A Cloud of Witiusses.

George answered, " I was never a seeker out of texts \ that is the
proper work of a minister."

Then the Advocate said, " Put up your Bible, for we are not for
preaching at this time."

He answered, " I am not come to preach, for I never could ;
but, sir, this is the Word of God, whereby I am come here to be
judged; and I charge you, and not only you, but all of you, that as
ye shall answer in one day before our Lord Jesus Christ, when He
shall sit and judge betwixt the just and the unjust, that ye judge me
by what is written in this holy Bible ; otherwise remember, ye, and the
rest of you, shall make account for it in that day, when our Lord shall
sit as judge, and ye shall stand naked and bare before Him ; and if
ye do it not, I shall be a witness against you."

To this they returned, that he was come to be judged, not to
judge; and after a while's silence, when he demanded who were his
accusers, the Advocate replied, " I am your accuser," and interro-
gated him thus —

Q. " Were ye at Bothwell ?"

A. " I have answered that in my first examination."
Q. " But," said the Advocate, " you must answer it now."
A. " It being criminal by your law, you must prove it."
Q. " Do you hold these that were there as rebels ?"
A. " I allow myself to be among no rebels ; but whom call you
rebels ?"

The Advocate said, "These that are rebels to the king."
George answered, " If they be not rebels to God, the matter is
the less."

Q. " Do you approve of them ?"

A. " Yes, in as far as they were for Christ and His cause."
Q. " Do ye allow yourself to rise in arms against the king ?"
A. "No."

Q. "Wherefore then did ye rise in arms?"

A. " I have warrant in the Word of God to rise in arms in
defence of the Gospel and work of Reformation, according to our
solemn engagements ; wherein we are sworn to uphold and defend,
to the utmost of our power, the work of Reformation."
Q. " What ! are you engaged to be against your king?"
A. "■ You heard not me say that ; but I said I am for the king and
all authority as far as they are for the work of God, but no further."
Q. " Do you own the present authority?"

George Jacksoit. 4 1 3

A. "1 own no unlawful authority."

Q. " Will you take the Bond of Regulation, and ye shall win your
way [/.<?., get free].

A. " I will have nothing to do with you or your bonds either."

Being desired to subscribe what they had written down as his
confession, he refused.

At his second compearance before the Council, after they had
read to him, and several other prisoners, the Declaration emitted at
Sanquhar, they asked if he approved of that paper, which casts off
the king, and all his authority and laws, and declares open war
against him, and approves to murder his soldiers, militia, gentlemen,
or intelligencers, wherever they can have the occasion? He an-
swered, " I disown all murder."

Q. " But do you approve of that paper?"

A. " As far as it owns truth."

Q. " Knew ye of it before?"

A. " I knew not of it this morning wl>en I arose, no more than
the child unborn."

Q. "Who set it out?"

A. " You have it there ; perhaps it has been yourselves for aught
I know."

Q. " Were you never in these meetings called Societies or General
Correspondences ? "

A. " Since ever the Lord made me to hate sin and follow duty,
it was my desire to be in the company of the godly, and to go where
I might have edification to my soul."

Q. " Would ye think it lawful to kill the soldiers if they were going
to take you ? "

A. " Yes, in self-defence."

This account is abstracted out of his own letters. As for his
large testimony, it hath not been thought necessary to publish it :
for these answers which he gave, were his testimony before the
enemies ; these were the grounds of his indictment and sentence of
death ; these are the chief points of truth upon which he enlarges in
his testimony ; and, moreover, it appears from the many repetitions
of the same matter, that the severity of his persecutors has occa-
sioned his large testimony to be writ with less accuracy than he
would. He insists much in praising God, for calling him to, and
strengthening him under his sufferings ; professes a great cheerfulness
in laying down his life for the cause of Christ ; exhorts others to for-

414 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

sake the love of the world, and embrace the cross of Christ, and
undergo the hatred of the world ; he is full in enumerating the heads
of truth to which he adheres, and national sins against which he bears
witness ; so that he passes scarce any point of truth touched in the
former testimonies, though they are not so orderly disposed as in
some others. He forewarns all of the hazard of approaching judg-
ments, encourages the godly with a prospect of Christ's return to the
land, and invites them to take hold of Him, and wrestle with Him for
His return ; withal deploring the case of the Church, on account of
such wresders and mourners ; and with a solemn farewell to earthly
relations, friends, acquaintances and enjoyments, with a welcome of
heavenly ones, he concludes his dying testimony ; in the whole he
gives evidence of one near and dear to Christ, and supported and
strengthened by Him.

OGETHER with the foresaid martyr, William Keagow in
Kilkeagow received his indictment, specifying the same
causes, viz., being at Bothwell under the command of
Robert Hamilton, brother to the laird of Preston, issuing out treason-
able proclamations and declarations, which he owned as his duty in
defence of the Gospel and covenanted work of Reformation, and
refusing to call the death of the Archbishop of St Andrews murder,
and not being free to pay cess to the king, etc. But whether he left
any testimony or not, it has not come to the hand of the publishers.
[Wodrovv tells still less of William Keagow. He says, " There
were some persons put to death towards the close of this year, of
whom I have not distinct accounts. However, any hints I have of
them I give. William Keagow was executed upon the same points
with the others above named, in December." — Ed.]

John Watt and John Semple.

F JOHN WATT little else is certainly known than that he
was of the parish of Kilbride, and the brief notice given of
him in the records of the Court of Justiciary. Wodrow
mentions a John Watt in Kilbride, who, in the harvest of 1683 was
heavily fined for nonconformity, but he does not say it was the same
person, and the name is a common one in the parish.

John Semple was of Craigthorn, a farm about a mile to the north
of the village of Westquarter, in the parish of Glassford, Lanarkshire.
He was taken in November 1684. The council registers for No-
vember 13th charge him with being a contriver of the Societies' De-
claration or affixing it to the church door. He refused to give an oath
disowning the paper, and they ordained him to be tried by torture in
the Thumbscrew, Boots, or both, until he be brought to a clear confes-
sion. The notice closes in words which show how little the government
of those times thought of the suffering they caused to others. In a
dry matter-of-fact style it is recorded : " And the said John being
called in, and interrogate in the Thumbscrew, and having refused to
declare, and at length turned faint, he was remanded to prison till to-
morrow at ten of the clock, at which time he is again to be tried by
torture." In the following letter he gives a touching account of the
torture they subjected him to.

Next day, as they had ordered, he was tortured in the Boots.
From the Boots he was taken to the Court of Justiciary for trial.
John Watt and a Gabriel Thomson, of whom nothing is now known,
were tried with him. They were charged with high treason, as art
and part in the paper, the Societies' Declaration lately posted upon
the church-doors. The evidence brought against them was, that
John Semple would not disown the Declaration, that Gabriel Thom-
son and John Watt refused to answer or disown the paper. All
three were found guilty and sentenced to be taken to the Gallowlee
that day, November 14th, 1684, and hanged "betwixt three and five
of the clock in the afternoon."

4 1 6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

At the execution, says Wodrow, the soldiers were barbarous, and
allowed the poor men scarce any time to pray. The people who
looked on were surrounded by the soldiers, and had interrogatories
and queries put to them, which, when they refused to answer upon
oath, ten or twelve were made prisoners, and carried from the scaffold
to the Tolbooth. Crookshanks adds, because three coffins were seen
to be carried down the street to receive their bodies, the Council
ordered Sir William Patcrson to inquire by whom they were made.

Among these spectators was Janet Fimerton, a ])ious woman
already mentioned in the notice of Walter Smith, p. 27. She had
been in waiting to render the last services to the bodies of the three
martyrs. Patrick Walker, in his "Life and Death of Mr Walter Smith,"
speaks of her in connection with the letter which Walter Smith wrote
to her, and which he gives ; and her name, as one who waited to
dress the bodies of John Semple and his fellow-sufferers, leads him,
in a highly characteristic passage, to tell of her, and of the last hours
of John Semple and John Watt. One or two of its details, as is
occasionally the case with Patrick Walker, are not quite accurate ;
lie calls John Semple, Robert, gives him the adjoining parish of
Stonehouse, instead of Glassford, and mistakes the hours between
which Thomas Harkness, Andrew Clark, and Samuel M'Ewen were
sentenced and executed ; but, as a whole, it is vivid in a high de-
gree, and burns with a hatred of wrong-doing, in striking contrast
with the extract from the Council register respecting John Semple :

" This Christian, Janet Fimerton, was not only my acquaintance
but fellow-prisoner, both in Edinburgh, and Dunnottar Castle. She
was about fifty years of age, never married. She spent much of her
time in visiting prisoners and sufferers, doing good to them and for
them, especially on the murdering bloody days of their deaths, going
amongst friends, getting coffins and winding-sheets, and managing
of their headless and handless bloody corpses, many of them being
hashed and bagged off.

" Accordingly, Robert [John] Semple, my acquaintance, who was
born and lived in that suffering family of Craigthorn, in the parish of
Stonehouse [Glassford], in Clydesdale, whose father was killed at
Pentland Hills ; and, among many other pieces of great sufferings,
his mother and sister, Jean, were prisoners in Dunnottar. He was
taken in November 1684, the two slaughter years of killing- time being
begun in the fifteenth day of August before, when Thomas Hark-
ness, within thirty years of age, Andrew Clark, nineteen years.

John Watt and John Semple. 4 1 7

Samuel M'Ewen, seventeen, without any indictment, got sentence of
death passed upon them at twelve o'clock, and executed at three
[Wodrow — sentenced at one, and executed at five], in the Grassmarket.
But a more fi.ill account of them afterward, if the Lord will, being in
the Canongate Ironhouse with them the three days that they were in
Edinburgh. [This purpose Patrick Walker did not live to execute.]

" The said Robert [John] Semple was brought to Hamilton. Duke
William examined him, charging him with being a troubler of the
country, to which he answered, that he could give no suitabler
answer than what Elijah gave to Ahab, that he and his father's
house had been the troublers of our Israel.

" The Duke thought upon this after. Possibly this answer brought
him in mind of what active hand he had in that persecution, and
what trouble his father-in-law bred in our Israel in the year 1648, for
which he lost his head in England. He sent for the dean of that
place, and inquired at him where he would find that place of Scrip-
ture. The baptized brute could not tell him, at which he was
offended, and said, ' What a base, naughty set of people are all of you.
for all the encouragement you have ! If I had inquired at the country
fellow, his answer would have been ready.'

" After this, Robert [John] Semple, with Gabriel Semple [])erhaps
a misprint of Patrick Walker's for Gabriel Thomson], aged eighteen
years, who escaped out of the Canongate Ironhouse, upon the 19th
day of August before, to which I was witness, and John Watt, were
quickly sent to Edinburgli, and carried straight before the Council.
After examination, about eleven of the clock, Robert [John] Semple
was squeezed in the Thumbkins, to the frightful crushing of the bones
of his thumbs. He lay in that tormenting torture above five hours,
which length of time exceeded all of the many that they had tor-
mented in these hellish engines of Boots and Thumbkins. After four
o'clock they convened, and passed doom upon all the three, without
any indictment. Then they sent them down to the Gallowlee, when
it was dark, and suddenly executed them.

" After the bloody rope was about John Watt's neck, having no
more need of the Bible, he threw it down, saying, ' Give that to my
brother.' A woman, yet alive, my near neighbour, kept it in hei
hands. One of the town -officers threw it from her, and gave it to
cursed Peter Graham, captain of the Town-guard, that son of Belial.
He cried, ' Where is the woman that owns this Bible ?' Janet Fimerton
said, ' I own it, to give it to his brother.' Graham said, ' Secure her.'

4 1 8 A Cloud of Wibiesses.

" At the same time he enclosed many people, and all, who would
not swear that these men justly deserved to die, were made prisoners
— which many women refused. He marched quickly with these to
the Town Tolbooth, and left the hangman to cut them \i.e., John
Semple and his companions] down, and the Town-officers to be his
guard. When cut down, he was going to strip them of their clothes
[but], the Collegioners \i.c., the students at the College] sent him
and the Town-officers off in great haste. About twelve friendly
women, waiting on to see the end, gathered about them, who had
coffins and linen to order their corpses ; but, being very dark, they
laid them in their coffins with their clothes, and rolled their plaids
for handspakes ; came up Leith Wynd, and down St Mary's Wynd,
and up the Cowgate to the Greyfriars' gate (about a mile). The
Town-guard got orders to take the corpses from them. The noise
rose ; they let the corpses fall, and fled for their lives. The Town-
guard kept guard upon them all night, and the next morning trailed
them down on sleds and buried them at the gallows' foot.

" The said Janet, and most of these women, were taken that night,
and kept in prison until the i8th day of May, 1685, when they, with
many others, both men and women, were gathered from several
prisons through the land, and sent to Dunnottar Castle, sixty-eight
miles from Edinburgh, where they lay in great distress, until the 18th
day of August next j then brought back to Leith, and sentence of
banishment passed upon a hundred of them to New Jersey (whereof
twenty-four were women), without any libel, whereof the said Janet
was one.

"As soon as they went a shipboard, she said ' Farewell, bloody,
sinful Scotland, I will never come back to thee again ; the sea-
billows will be my winding sheet. The purchased and promised
blessings of the Lord and mine be multiplied upon the poor suffer-
ing remnant, the excellent ones in whom I have had all my delight
and pleasures on earth.' Which came to pass, that she and man}'
others died by the way. Pitlochie, a professing laird in Fife, got a
gift of them from the bloody Council, to carry them there to be his
slaves ; but, behold, he and his whole family, except his eldest
daughter, died by the way."

The letter of John Semple is not in the original edition. It
appeared first in the fourth edition. The letter is addressed to his
mother and sister then in prison. According to the above extract
from Patrick Walker, this prison was Dunnottar. — Ed.J

John Watt and John Semple.

419

PON the 14th day of November, 1684, suffered John Watt
in the parish of Kilbride, and John Semple, in the parish
of Glassford ; whose testimonies, if they be extant, came
not to the hands of the pubUshers of this collection ; only it is certain,
from their indictments, that they died for their adherence to the same
truths at the Gallovvlee, which was in the twilight of the evening,
while they were singing the eleventh section of the cxix. Psalm, par-
ticularly these words in the eighty-fourth verse :

" How many are thy sei"vant's days ?
When wilt thou execute
Just judgment on these wicked men,
That do me persecute?"

The soldiers made such a hellish noise, and turned back so upon the
people that were spectators of the action, that the people verily con-
ceived they should have been trodden down and massacred on the
spot, which occasioned all to flee, so that none of their Christian
friends durst stay to do the last duty to them, in dressing their dead
bodies, but they were left to the insolent soldiers' disposal.

COPY of a LETTER written by John Semple in Craig-
thorn, while in prison. Directed to his mother and
sister, who were then in prison.

" Loving Mother and Sister, — This is to let you
know, that, that day I was brought to the Tolbooth
of Canongate, and we were put into the irons, and the
shackles put upon our arms, and to-morrow \i.e., next
day], about eleven o'clock, I was brought before the Council, and
they showed me the paper which was found upon the crosses and
kirk doors, and they asked if I knew it ? I answered. What know I
what is in that paper ? The duke having it in his hand, the rest of
the Council bade him read it to me ; he read some lines of it, and
then said to the rest, it would take a long time to read. They offered
to give it to me to read, and promised me tiine to consider it, if I
would give my judgment of it. I answered, I will not have it, neither
will I be judge of papers.

420 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Q. " ' Own ye the king's authority, as it is now estabUshed ?'

A. " ' I own all authority, as it is agreeable to the Word of God.'

Q. " ' Will ye own this paper or not ? '

A. " ' What know I what is in that paper?'

" Then they said, ' 1 o be short with you, own ye the Covenants
and Presbyterian principles ?'

A. " ' I own the Covenants and Presbyterian principles with my
whole heart.'

" Then said they, ' So, that is a frank and free fellow.'

" Then they caused to take me away for a while, and I was brought
before them again. And then they said, ' Come and declare the
truth, and give your oath what you know concerning the contrivers
and publishers of these papers.'

A. " * I am not bound to wrong my neighbours, neither will I
give an oath.'

" After some questions and answers, the Chancellor said, he
should make me do it ; for, he said, he would make me as small as
snuff. I answered, ' Sometimes persecutors have caused the saints
to blaspheme.'

" The bishop's brother said, ' I was a liar, for the Scripture says
no such thing.'

" I said, that it says the same thing, and I told him where it
was.

" Then they caused to take me away ; and then a little after they
brought me before them again the third time, and pressed upon me
again to declare ; I utterly refused.

" Then they caused the executioner to take me a Httle aback, and
made me sit with my back to the bar, and threw on the Thumbkins
upon my thumbs, until I fell into a sound [i.e., swoon] ; and when 1
overcame again [i.e., recovered], they were standing about, looking
upon me, and bidding me rise, and then I rose.

" Then some of them said. What will ye say now to the Chan-
cellor? I said, I will say nothing to him.

" Then they took me to the Town Tolbooth, to the Ironhouse.

" Now I desire that I could bless the Lord for this, that He kept
me ; for, in the time of the torture, I spake not a word good nor bad,
but got it borne, until I fell into a sound [i.e., swoon]. All their
countenances dashed [i.e., disturbed] me nothing ; for I did not fear
their faces, nor the faces of hundreds, who were gazing upon me,
from about eleven o'clock till seven o'clock in the afternoon. And I

John Watt and jfohn Semple. 42 1

thought that this was a sign of God's presence ; but the shining of
His countenance was not with my spirit. But I was helped to believe
and hold fast ; for I knew not but that day or to-morrow might have
been my last day.

" The next morning I was brought before one of them into a
chamber.

" He said, ' How are ye advised to-day?' I said, ' As I was.'

Q. " ' What is the reason that ye will not tell the truth to the
Chancellor ; for it is a sin not to do it ? '

A. " ' Doeg told the truth when he told Saul, that he saw David
come to Ahimelech, and that Ahimelech gave him bread, and did
enquire of God for him, and yet the Scripture calls it lying (Ps. lii. 3).
And therefore there is a sinful pernicious speaking of the truth, which
is a great sin, and accounted as a lie.' I said to him also, that,
knowing the terror of the Lord, I thought that the terror of men was
the lighter to be borne, and that I would say no more than I had said,
though they should torture all the fingers and toes that I had, till
they should be cut off. But as the Lord should give me strength I
would stand.

" After this he never opened his mouth more, but humbred and
rose up, and went his way, and the keeper brought me back to the
Ironhouse, where I remain. One thing is come to my mind which
he said more ; that it was for rebellion against the king that they were
pursuing for. I answered, so did the persecutors of the Son of God
say, that it was for rebellion, for they called him an enemy to Caesar.
Moreover, they threatened me with the Boots. Now, what the Lord
will permit them to do, I know not ; but there are hard things deter-
mined against me ; and I am very weak, for flesh and blood are but
weak, therefore forget not my case. I am well contented wath my
lot, blessed be the Lord, only I am afraid of my own weakness lest
I wrong the truth.

" No more at present, but I wish that the Lord's presence may
be with you, my dear mother and sister. Give my love to my
brother and sisters. I am in good health, blessed be God ; my
thumbs, they are not very sore, only they are something feelless
[i.e., insensible] ; I and others thought, they should scarcely have
ever served me, at least for a long time.

"JOHN SEMPLE."

James Graham.

i|AMES GRAHAM was a tailor in the parish of Crossmichael,
Kirkcudbrightshire. He was returning to his mother's
house, after a day's labour, when he was overtaken by
Claverhouse and a party of soldiers. They did not know him, and
had nothing to lay to his charge, but they searched him. They
found a Bible in his pocket. The Bible they took from him, and
without any more questions they carried him prisoner to Kirkcud-
bright. Thence they took him to Wigtown and then to Dumfries,
where he was some time in irons, because he would not answer their
questions. He was shortly afterwards taken to Edinburgh, where he
was questioned upon the Societies' Declaration. He was tried, con-
demned, and suffered with George Jackson. Wodrow says he died
most comfortably. — Ed.]

> ^^ ^ <

p. HE LAST TESTIMONY of James Gr.'^ham, tailor
in Crossmichael, in the Stewartry of Galloway, who
suffered at the Gallowlee, betwixt Leith and Edin-
burgh, December 9, 1684.

f^.ji " Men and Brethren, — I am come here this day

"^^^^^^ to lay down my life for the cause of Christ, and I bless
7 the Lord, that ever He gave me a life to lay down for

such a noble cause ; and now I wish this day that every hair of my
head, and every drop of my blood were a life, I could willingly lay
them down for Him. For it is all too little I can do for Him. Oh !
it is a wonder that ever He should have chosen me or the like of
me, to witness or die for Him in such a cause ! For He hath no
need of me, or any of the lost sons of Adam, but He hath testified in

y antes Graham. 423

His Word, that He will make the poor things of the earth to confound
the prudent.

" And now I bless the Lord that I die not as a murderer, nor a
thief, nor as an evil doer, nor as a busybody in other men's matters.
The heads whereupon I am indicted, are, because I refused to dis-
own that paper which is most agreeable to the Word of God, and to
our sworn Covenants and work of Reformation ; and because I
would not swear to that which I durst not for my soul do. Now,
I giving a short account what I am indicted for, I shall likewise give
an hint of what I adhere to.

" I. I adhere to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ments, Confession of Faith, Catechisms Larger and Shorter, and to
the whole work of Reformation, as it was once established in our
land, although now, alas ! defaced and denied by the most part of
this generation.

" 2. To the Covenants, National and Solemn League, to which
we are sworn, with hands uplifted to the most high God, and
bound to maintain.

" 3. To the Sum of Saving Knowledge, the Acknowledgment of
Sins, and Engagement to Duties.

" 4. To the preached Gospel, as it was faithfully preached in our
land, by the sent messengers of Jesus Christ, especially by Messrs
J. Kd. \i.e., John Kid], J. K. \i.e., John King], D. C. \i.e., Donald
Cargill], and R. Cn. [?>., Richard Cameron], who took their lives in
their hands, and went forth upon all hazards, when the rest of their
brethren turned their back upon the cause.

" 5. To Mr James Renwick, as a faithful sent servant of Jesus
Christ, who has lifted up the standard where Messrs Donald Cargill
and Richard Cameron left it, who sealed the cause with their blood.

" 6. To all the appearances in arms in defence of the Gospel and
our swoni Covenants, and the whole work of Reformation.

"7. To the Excommunication at the Torwood, by Mr Donald
Cargill.

" 8. To the Sanquhar Declaration, as a thing most agreeable to
the Word.

" 9. To the Declaration at Rutherglen.

" ID. To the paper that was taken otf worthy Henry Hall at the
Queensferry.

"11. To the burning of that hell-hatched thing called the Test,
at Lanark.

424 A Cloud of Witnesses.

'* 12. To the fellowships of the Lord's people, for reading, singing,
and praying; according to the Scripture in Mai. iii. 16, and Heb.
X. 25, and several other Scriptures which warrant this.

" 13. To all the Testimonies of the faithful witnesses of Jesus
Christ, from the appearance in arms at Pentland Hills to this day.

" 14. To that Paper upon which I was indicted, in so far as it is
agreeable to the ^^'ord of God, and our sworn Covenants, and work
of Reformation.

"And now, on the other hand, I shall desire to let you see what I shall
witness and testify against, so far as I am enabled by His Holy Spirit.

" I. I leave my testimony against all breach of Covenant, which
is a sin that hath overspread the whole land.

" 2. Against the acceptors of the Indulgence first and last,
because they have fled from their first engagements, which engage-
ment was to be faithful ministers to the Church of Christ, which they
have broken and rent.

" 3. Against the hearers of curates, because they have broken our
sworn Covenants and work of Reformation.

'* 4. Against Popery, Prelacy, Quakerism, and all heresy, and
whatsoever is contrary to the Word of God.

" 5. Against paying of the cess and locality, and against paying
of tines, because it is bearing up of these soul-murderers, and an
acknowledgment that we have done a fault in following our duty.

" 6. Against Charles Stuart, in regard he hath broken the Cove-
nant, that he w-as once sworn to, and put forth his hand against the
people of God.

" 7. Against that perjured and abominable thing called the Test
and the Oath of Allegiance, which is an oath against our Covenant.

" 8. Against Gib and his followers, and all their pernicious ways.

" 9. Against the overthrowing of our work of Reformation, which
we had from our Lord and Master, and His faithful servants, to be
comforts to our souls.

" Now, the time being short, I shall say no more ; but farewell
mother, brethren, and sisters ; farewell all Christian friends and
acquaintances in the Lord. Farewell Holy Scriptures, which have
been my comfort many a day. Farewell meat and drink, sun, moon,
and stars. Welcome eternity. Welcome heaven. Welcome holy
angels. Welcome God in Christ ; into Thy hands I commit my spirit !
" Sic siibscribitur,

" TAMES GRAHAM."

Robert Pollock.

lOBERT POLLOCK was a shoemaker in East Kilbride.
He was apprehended in Glasgow in October 1683, and
was sent into Edinburgh. He was examined before the
Council in the manner usual at that period. He was tried before
the Justiciary Court, January 19, 1685. The evidence brought
against him was that he had not disowned the Societies' Declaration
when before the Council. He was found guilty, and sentenced to
be hanged at the Gallowlee upon Wednesday, January 23d. He
died in great peace, and full views of his right to eternal happiness.
—Ed.]

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of Robert

^ Pollock, Cordiner [i.e., shoemaker] in Kilbride, who

was taken at Glasgow, and suffered at the Gallowlee,

^^^ January 23, 1685, betwixt eight and nine of the clock

^^^ in the morning.

(The body of this testimony being much of a piece
with several of the foregoing, as declaring his adher-
ence to the same truths, and abhorrence of the same errors and
abominations, the reader will find here only the preamble and post-
script, as follows) :

" Dear Friends, — I, being sentenced to die by men, thought it
fit to leave this short word of testimony behind me. Now, if I could
say anything to the commendation of Christ, I have as much to say
to His commendation as any poor sinner ever had to say ; for He
has done more for me than heart can think, or tongue can speak, or
hand can write ; for He has made good His promise to me, ' When
thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the

420 A Cloud of H^'itnesses.

fire thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon
thee ' (Isa. xliii. 2). This promise, I can say upon good ground, has
been made out to me. And I can say with the spouse in the 2d
of the Song, verse 6, * His left hand is under my head, and His right
hand doth embrace me.' ' A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved
unto me' (Song i. 13).

" And now I cannot study to save my life without prejudice to His
glory and vindicating of evil-doers. For I desire to fear and serve
Him, and also to confess Him that hath said in His Word, ' Whoso-
ever therefore shall confess me before men, Him will I confess also
before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me
before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven '
(Matt. X. 32, 33). And He has said, ' No man having put his hand to
the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God ' (Luke
ix. 62). And also He hath said, ' If any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him ' (Heb. x. 38) ; ' but he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved' (Matt. xxiv. it,). Now
I say, death and life, heaven and hell, even Christ, being on the one
hand, and the world on the other hand, and Christ holding forth an
offer of Himself to me and making me welcome to come to Him, I
desire rather to suffer anything He is pleased, than to run after the
multitude ; and now truth being so much controverted, I think I
cannot refuse to be at His disposing in suffering for it.

" And now, I being somewhat confused in the time of my writing,
and therefore could not keep order, wherefore I take leave to leave
my testimony to several things that I forgot before ; and now I as
a dying man, leave my testimony to the Sanquhar Declaration, and
to the late Declaration, November 1684.

" And now I have two particulars to leave my testimony against,
viz., the Duke of York and the Duke of Monmouth ; against the
Duke of York, for marrying a strange woman, and as he is a Papist
himself; and against the Duke of Monmouth, for coming down to
Scotland to help tlie enemies of God to kill the Lord's people for
hazarding their lives in defence of the Gospel.

" And now I am come here this day to lay down my life for the
hope of Lsrael, of the which hope 1 am not ashamed this day, for I
desire to bless His holy name that these twelve years and more my
soul has loved Him, and many times my soul has been refreshed
when I thought upon suffering for Him. Now I do not say I am
free of sin, but I am at peace with God through a slain Mediator,

Robert Pollock. 427

and He shall make my soul as clean of sin as had I never sinned ;
and now I am to step out of time into eternity, where I shall be as
full of Him as my soul desires to be ; and now again I take my
farewell of all created comforts in time, and let none say that these
are not my words, for they are even my last words.

" And now, 1 being never loosed out of shackles on my hands, I
cannot write myself, but I do subscribe myself, and whether any
think it right or not, I have peace in doing of it. But it may be
some will say, that I have not been right principled, and have been
in error ; and it may be some will say, that they would not have
ventured their life on such grounds ; but I can say, the least of the
controverted truths to me is sufficient ground to lay down my life
for; and the main thing is authority, that now is cried up, and
Charles Stuart to be supreme : if any will join with that and approve
of his deeds, it will never be asked whether they fear God or not ;
although they were the greatest blasphemers that ever lived, if they
will approve of the acts and laws made by these that are now rulers,
(though they rule wrong), there is no more sought of them. They
never ask whether they fear God or not, and that says that they fear
Him not themselves, and that they study no further than to please
Charles Stuart, which will be their ruin in the end.

" And now I have this to say to the commendation of Christ,
that He is without parallel or comparison ; He is altogether lovely,
and in the greatest of straits He is most comely ; His countenance
is refreshful to me, and has been in the greatest of straits and diffi-
culties ; His countenance has refreshed me, and it is delightsome to
a weary soul ; nor is there any comfort like unto Him, ' His yoke is
easy, and His burden is light.' Yea, he has been so kind to me, that
I have not gone one hair's-breadth on mine own charges ; He spares
not expenses ; He gives enough to all them that are about His work,
for aye when I was put sorest to it, I got enough from my lovely
Master to bear my charges with. Now my advice is, to all them that
desire to be upright for Christ, walk on and do not draw back, for
ye will not want enough to do your turn, for he does not stand to
ware [/>., hesitate to spend] anything upon His servants.

" And now, I as a dying man, entreat you all not to fear imprison-
ment ; fear nothing ; for if ye can trust in Him, there is no fear you
shall be left to do the work yourself. I can say no more to make
you love Him ; but only this I can say, that He has aye made me
victorious, since I was His prisoner. And now I can say, I am not

428 A Clo7id 0/ Witnesses.

afraid to venture upon a gibbet for Him, and for the vindication of
His cause. And now let none say, it is a sore matter that my life
should be taken away for such a cause, for I say unto you, that I
would never have gotten such an offer to quit my life for ; and let
none be sorry that I am taken away out of the gate [i.e., way] of God's
wrath, for there are many in Scotland that will not know where to
flee from His wrath pursuing them, yea, even many that are not
much concerned with these things now. And therefore I say, flee
unto Christ, all that would study not to be trampled down in His
fury ; and these that would not have the wrath of the Lord poured
out upon them, my advice is, to make your peace with the Prince of
peace ; for sad will the calamities be that are coming on this land.
Oh ! prepare for judgment, for He will come and make inquisition
for the blood that hath been shed in Scotland, before the controversy
end and the calamity overpass : it looks very like that the fowls of the
air will eat the bodies of the dead men and women not being buried.

" I shall say no more, but study to flee out of the way of God's
wrath ; only flee unto Him, and forsake your evil ways. And now,
it is not, I declare, upon the account of suffering, that I expect to be
saved, nor any righteousness of mine own, but only through the
imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, through His merits and inter-
cession ; for I have no righteousness of my own, neither can I merit
anything by my suffering. But it is as sure, that He has said, ' He
that denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father which
is in heaven, and before the holy angels.'

" And now I am brought here this day, to lay down my life for
the cause and interest of Jesus Christ, and for no other thing ; and
I desire to bless the Lord, that I am not suffering as an evil-doer, and
that I die not as a fool. And I desire to bless the Lord, that ever
He honoured me with suffering for Him ; for many times my soul has
been refreshed, when I saw anything like that, that I would be a
sufferer for Him.

" Now I desire to take my farewell of all things in time. Fare-
well sweet Scriptures, reading, singing, praying, and believing. Fare-
well sun, moon, and stars, and all created comforts in time. 'Welcome
heaven and happiness. Welcome innumerable company of angels.
Welcome spirits of just men made perfect. Welcome praising with-
out ceasing, or wearying in the least. Welcome Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost ; into Thy hands I commit my spirit.

"ROBFRT POLLOCK."

Robert Miller.

OBERT MILLER, mason, Rutherglen, was tried along with
Robert Pollock, January 19, 1685. He was found guilty,
and suffered along with him, January 23, 1685, at the
Gallowlee, between Edinburgh and Leith. He died in much serenity
and inward consolation. His testimony was first given in full in the
fourth edition of 1741. In the first edition, after Robert Pollock's
testimony, there is added — *' Together with him suffered Robert
Miller, mason, in Rutherglen, sentenced for, and adhering to the
same truths. In his testimony he blesses God for His providential
care of him from his infancy, for His engaging his heart wonderfully
to Himself, for His honouring him to tread the footsteps of his lovely
Lord in suffering for His name. He declares his fears of the growth
and prevalency of Popery, and of God's approaching wrath against
the land ; exhorts to keep up Christian fellowships ; forgives his ene-
mies the injuries done to his person ; encourages his suffering
brethren to venture on the cross of Christ, enforcing it with his own
experience of God's love and supporting consolations sweetening the
cross to him."— Ed.]

> -^t^ <

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Robert Miller, mason,

who lived in the parish of Rutherglen, and suffered for

the truth at the Gallowlee of Edinburgh, upon the 23d

of January, betwixt six and seven [eight and nine] in

J the morning, 1685.

" Loving and Dear Friends, — I being sentenced

T to die by men, have thought it fit to leave behind me

this mite of a testimony, and to let you know upon what grounds I

430 A Cloud of Witnesses.

sufter ; and it is only because I would not acknowledge the present
authority, which is in a direct opposition to the Word of God ; and
also, because I would not take that oath against the Apologetical
Declaration, and swear niyself an enemy to the Covenants and work
of Reformation, which I durst not do, no, not for my soul.

" Now I confess, I liave been a great sinner against God, but I
never acted anything against man worthy of death, bonds, or
imprisonment ; now glory to Him, for He hath not been wanting to
me. I have seen, in some measure. His hand of providence, aye, in
less or more, from my very infancy, guiding me to this day. But
now it is about fifteen years since He engaged me wonderfully to
Him, although I have many times turned my back on Him, and also
thought I followed my duty, with many failings ; yet He never suffered
me to go, but still kept me with a loving respect to Him, and His
persecuted truths, and aye when I was like to be snared with strong
temptations from Satan, the world, and my own wicked heart, then
He brake the snare, and I escaped as a bird out of the hand of the
fowler. And, according to that word. He hath, in a wonderful mea-
sure, made all things to work together for my good.

" Oh ! how many times have I turned back, and provoked Him
to hide His face, and to desert me, and to plague me with hardness
of heart ! but aye, when I was ready to sink, then He manifested His
power, and brought me up out of the great depth, and also made out
that word, ' ^^'hen my father and my mother forsake me, then the
Lord will take me up' (Ps. xxvii. lo). Now, I say, glory, glor}' to
Him, who hath plucked me as a brand out of the burning, and hath
made a prison and irons sweet and easy to me. Oh ! what an
honour is it, to tread the same steps that my loving Lord hath trod
before me ! Oh ! now He is become altogether lovely, and the
chief among ten thousand ; I can now say from my experience, that
my Beloved is mine, and I am His.

" I. Now I heartily adhere, and leave my testimony to that cove-
nant of free grace, agreed upon between the Father and the Son ; that
noble work of redemption ; and desire to take Him in all His offices,
as King, Priest, and Prophet.

" 2. I heartily adhere to the holy and sacred Word of God, with
which ni)' soul many a time hath been refreshed.

" 3. And also to the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter
Catechisms.

" 4. And also to the National and Solemn League and Covenants.

Robert Miller. 431

" 5. And also to that glorious work of Reformation, as it was
reformed from Popery and Prelacy, and all other errors.

" 6. And likewise I leave my testimony to all the fellowship
meetings of the Lord's people, for keeping up of the fallen down
standard of our Lord.

" 7. And likewise I leave my testimony to these worthy men's
doctrine, viz., Mr Donald Cargill and the rest who jeoparded their
lives upon the high places of the earth, for the bearing up of the
fallen down standard of our Lord, when the rest most shamefully left
it at the command of men.

" 8. And likewise I heartily adhere and leave my testimony to
that worthy man's doctrine, called Mr James Renwick, who is now
cariying on that great work, when there are so few to own it. And
I desire to bless the Lord that ever I heard them preach.

" 9. And likewise I leave my testimony to the Excommunication
at the TorAvood, passed by Donald Cargill against these enemies of
God.

" 10. And likewise I leave my testimony to all protestations and
declarations given by the Lord's people, against His enemies.

"11. And also, to the making use of defensive arms.

" And likewise I desire to tell you what I disown, and leave my
testimony against.

" And in the first place, I leave my testimony against Popery and
Prelacy, and Erastianism, and all other errors, not agreeable to the
Word of God, and against all these that adhere to and own these
abominable practices and principles.

" 2. I leave my testimony against that tyrant that is now upon
the throne, viz., Charles Stuart, who hath not only broken the Cove-
nant, but burned it, and overturned the whole work of Reformation,
which he was sworn and engaged unto, and is yet going on with
uphfted hands, in his perjury, and making to do the like, according
to that of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin ; and also for his Supre-
macy over the prerogatives of our Lord.

" 3. And also I leave my testimony against those called the
Council of Scotland, who at this day sleep not, except they have
done mischief, and they are now taking away my life, not having any
manner of fact against me, either worthy of death or of bonds, but
only because I would not perjure myself, and state myself an open
enemy to God, and His truth,, which I durst not do, no, not for my
soul.

432 A Cloud oj IVi/ncssts.

" 4. And likewise I leave my testimony against that wicked thing
called the Test, invented by Satan.

" 5. And also against all Bonds and Declarations sent forth by
these who are called the Council of Scotland.

" 6. And likewise, I leave my testimony against Cess and
Locality paying, which is for no other use, but to bear down the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus.

" 7. And also against militia money, which is for that same
use.

" 8. And also against all intelligencers and apprehenders of the
Lord's peoi)le. Obadiah 10.

"9. And likewise against all compearing at courts, or coming out
of prison on bond or caution, or paying of jailor's fees ; for it says,
that we have done them wrong, whereas we have done them none,
and although they be forced to it, yet that will not excuse them, for
there is not a liberty in all the Word of God, to say a confederacy with
His open and avowed enemies.

" 10. And also I leave my testimony against the hearing of these
tested curates, who are these that are mentioned in God's Word, viz.,
wolves and bears, which would devour the Lord's flock.

" II. And against all the bloodshed, before and since Pentland,
in the fields, and on scaffolds, and also in the seas.

"12. And against all the Indulgences, first and last; who lay
down the service of the Lord at the command of men, and have
engaged themselves in that woe that is pronounced against such as
are at ease, when Zion is in trouble ; for since I had any knowledge,
I never had any clearness for ministers who acknowledged any to be
the Head of the Church but Jesus Christ.

" 13. And against all sort of compliance, because I see there are
few that ever comply with them, who ever get leave to look behind
them, till they be the full length. And now, I must tell you, I have
not been free of the thoughts of it this many a day, that the Church
of Britain and Ireland shall be upon the borders of Babylon, before
they get a delivery.

" Now dear friends, study to be diligent in your duty, and also
make good use of your Bibles, for I have not gotten the thoughts of
it oft" my spirit this many a day, that ere long it shall come to that, that
it shall be death to the person with whom a Bible is found ; and also
I must tell you, that there was nothing more confirming to me that
they were enemies to truth, than to see their carriage when I was

Robert Miller. 433

before them. Now I am not taking upon me to propliesy, but the}'
are blind who see not there are sad days abiding these poor
lands. Now, I say, oh I study holiness, and labour to follow your
duty in sad earnest, for there is a black cloud of judgment ready to
break upon these lands. And now I dare not douljt but Christ is
upon His way to return again to these lands, and oh I be earnest
with Him, that He would spare a remnant, and that He would not
pass that sad sentence mentioned in Ezek, ix. 6, where he hatl)
gi\'en a commission to ' slay utterly old and young ; ' and also, verse
10, where He hath said, ' Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have
pit)'.' Now, I say likewise, be earnest with Him, that ye may be
marked by the man with the writer's inkhorn by his side, that ye may
be kept in the hollow of His hand in the day of Scotland's sad
calamity.

" Now, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, and
employ your strength in the holding up of the fallen-down standard
of our Lord, and if ye be found real in this duty, ye shall either be a
member of the Church militant, and see that glory of the second
temple, which shall be a glorious sight, or else ye shall be transported,
and be a member of the Church triumphant ; so ye shall be no loser,
but a noble gainer either of the ways ; for I dare not doubt, but that
Christ is upon His way, and that He will keep a remnant even of
holy seed, which shall yet be the substance of poor covenanted
Scotland. Now, I desire to die a Presbyterian, although one of the
meanest and poorest sinful things that ever followed Him and His
way,

" But, oh, praise ! praise ! and glory to Him, who hath taken this
way of dealing with me, as to honour me with suffering for Hirn and
and His controverted truths, and royal prerogatives, kingdom, and
sceptre. And now, in a word, I am fully persuaded that it is His
truth I am suftering for, and in this case, have both His Word and
Spirit on my side, and so I shall not be disappointed of my expecta-
tion.

" Now, I desire heartily to forgive all men what they have done
to me, as I am of myself ; but what they have done against the image
of God in me, that is not mine to forgive, but I must leave it before
the Great Judge to be decided, in His own time, when He will arise
and plead Zion's quarrel. Although men have burned His work,
and sworn it shall not rise again, yet the commission shall go forth,
' Arise and sing, j'e that dwell in the dust.'

434 ^^ Cloud of Witnesses.

"But I must leave it, because my time is but short ; but I have
one word more to say to the poor remnant. Fear not to venture upon
the cross of Christ, for ahhough ye see but the black side of it at the
beginning, yet when ye come to a trial upon His truth's account,
then He will appear, and be a present help in time of trouble, accord-
ing to His Word ; and the more sharp your trial be, the more He will
be seen perfecting strength in your weakness, according to that in
Isa. xl. 29, 31 : 'He giveth power to the faint; and to them that
have no might He increaseth strength. But they that wait upon the
Lord shall renew their strength.'

" Now, I say, fear not to contend for the truth, but labour to be as
free of self in it as ye can, for I can tell you, Christ and your idols
wll not lodge in one house together, but if ye can say upon good
ground, that it is pure love and zeal to His glory upon which ye are
suffering, then I say, come away, for ye shall not want expenses to
the full. Many Scriptures I might instance for your encouragement
in this, but I can say from experience, that He is a Prince of His
word. Oh ! they are not too mean who are in the furnace, if the
Son of God be with them. For I may now say with godly Mr
Rutherford, ' He hath paid me many a hundredfold [it is well told
me], and one to the hundred ' [Letters, Ixxiv., to the Lady Cul-
ross. — Ed.] Oh ! who would not praise Him, who hath carried
through a poor dwarf mounted upon the wings of Omnipotency !

" Now, my time is but short, but I give glory to the great name of
my God, for my interest is now made sure, and I have had much of
His sweet presence, since I was a prisoner for Him and His perse-
cuted truths ; and many times before. And now I bless His great
name, He hath perfected His work in me, and I shall have the full
enjoyment of Him through all eternity, for I have freely given away
myself to be at His disposal, and have taken Him to be my King, Priest,
and Prophet ; and now I think I may say with Job, ' I know that my
Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth ; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in
my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes
shall behold and not another ; tliough my reins be consumed with
me ' (Job xix. 25-27).

" Now, my clear friends, I must bid farewell to you, and leave
you to Him who hath promised to be a little sanctuary to His
own, to be kept by His mighty power unto snhation ; and also I bid
ia;cwell to sun, moon, and stars. And I must bid farewell to all the

Margaret Laztcklane and Margaret Wilson. 435

sweet Societies of the Lord's people. Farewell reading, and singing,
and praying. Farewell holy and sweet Scriptures, with which many
a time my soul hath been refreshed. And to conclude, farewell all
created comforts in time. And welcome the sweet fellowship of angels,
and the spirits of just men now made perfect, and the sweet fellow-
ship of the first-born. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into
whose hands I commit my spirit, for it is thine.
" Sic siibscribitiir,

"ROBERT MILLER."

Margaret Lauehlane and Margaret Wilson.

ARGARET LAUCHLANE, or Laughlison, or Maclauch-
LAN, and Margaret Wilson have obtained in our own
time a celebrity such as neither they nor their persecutors
ever dreamed of. Lord Macaulay, to illustrate the cruel treatment
of the Scotch Covenanters under the administration of James IL,
selected the history of a single fortnight. During this fortnight,
John Brown of Priesthill was murdered by Claverhouse. Peter
Gillies and John Bryce were tried in Ayrshire by a militarj' tribunal,
and in a few hours were convicted, hanged, and flung together into
a hole under the gallows. Robert Tom, Thomas Cook, and John
Urie were stopped by Major Balfour near Glasgow, and asked if
they would pray for King James VII. They gave what seemed to
the Major an evasive answer, and he ordered them to be blindfolded;
and within an hour after they had been arrested their blood was
lapped up by the dogs. In Eskdale a murder of equal atrocity was
committed by the laird of Westerhall on a lad, the son of a widowed
mother. On the same day Margaret Maclauchlan and Margaret ^\^ilson
suffered death for their religion in Wigtownshire. Lord Macaulay
describes Claverhouse, in a very different manner from that of the
fiction of Sir Walter Scott : " Pre-eminent among the bands which
oppressed and wasted these unhappy districts were the dragoons com-

43^ ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

manded by John Graham of Claverhouse. The story ran that these
wicked men used in their revels to play at the torments of hell, and
to call each other by tlie names of devils and damned souls. The
chief of this Tophet, a soldier of distinguished courage and profes-
sional skill, but rapacious and profane, of violent temper and of
obdurate heart, has left a name which, wherever the Scottish race is
settled on the face of the globe, is mentioned with a peculiar energv
of hatred."

These brilliant sentences of the historian stirred up Sheriff Mark
Napier, a writer of keen Jacobite sympathies, to take up the defence
of Claverhouse in his " Memoirs of Dundee," and at the same time to
stigmatise the Covenanters in a style of vituperation in which he has
no compeer in modern times. The Wigtown martyrs were pro-
nounced to be myths, and the story of their sufferings a fable and a
calumny. These assertions were not left unnoticed. His friends
and admirers did their best to present them to the world in calmer
language. They were speedily examined by a host of writers in
quarterly reviews, monthly magazines, and newspapers ; and the
result has been, after an investigation almost unparallelled for its
thoroughness, that the substantial truth of the story, as presented in
the i)ages of Defoe, the Cloud of Witnesses, Wodrow, Patrick Walker,
and Lord Macaulay, has been established beyond dispute.

Two gentlemen have contributed largely to this end — a writer in
the Scotsman, believed to be the Rev. Thomas Gordon, D.D., of New-
battle, whose papers, it is much to be regretted, have not been issued
to the world in a collected form — and the Rev. Archibald Stewart,
D.D., of Glasserton, in his " History Vindicated in the Case of the
Wigtown Martyrs," second edition, Edinburgh, 1869.

Dr Stewart's book is divided into three chapters. Chapter first
treats of previous legislation. He reviews the measures of government
by which in a few years the most loyal of subjects were changed into
the very opposite. He quotes the instructions which the Council
gave to the Commissions sent to traverse the country. If a man
owned or did not disown the Apologetic Declaration, he was to be
tried and hanged immediately. In the case of women, " those are
to be drowned." In chapter second he examines Mr Napier's proof
on the negative side, and shows it to be inconclusive, and in
chapter third reviews the evidence on the affirmative side of the ques-
tion. He arranges this under five heads — tradition, early pamphlets,
earlier histories, minutes of local church courts, and monumental

Aiargarci LauckUme and Alargaret Wilson. 437

evidence. Under early pamphlets, he quotes one printed in 1703
by Mr Andrew Symson, Episcopalian minister of Kirkinner, Margaret
Maclauchlan's parish, at the time of the martyrdom, and written by
his son, Mr Matthias Symson, in which a Presbyterian pamphleteer
is corrected in his account of the drowning, and the fact admitted, as
if witnessed by him : " They were judicially condemned after the
usual solemnities of procedure. The judges were several gentlemen
commissioned by authority, of whom Mr D. G., brother to the then
L. of CI. [evidently, Mr David Graham, brother to the then Laird of
Claverhouse], was one. The chancellor of Assize [or foreman of the
Jury] and clerk of the Court are yet alive."

Under minutes of the local Church Courts he gives :

(i.) The Minutes of the Presbytery of Wigtown, dated Fel)ruary
10, 1708, and of the Synod of Galloway, October 19, 170S, enjoining a
collection of accounts of the sufferings for religion in the late times of
persecution.

(2.) The Minute of the Kirk-session of Kirkinner, April 15,
171 1. The part relating to Margaret Maclauchlan is — "■ Fast
preces sederunt, all the members except John M'Culloch, William
Hanna, and John Martin, younger in Airles. Inter alia, the
minister gave in the account of the sufferings of honest, godly
people in the late times, which was read, and is as follows : Margaret
Laughlison, of known integrity and piety from her youth, aged about
eighty, widow of John Milliken, wright in Drumjargan, was, in or about
the year of God 1685, in her own house, taken off her knees in prayer,
and carried immediately to prison, and from one prison to another,
without the benefit of light to read the Scriptures ; was barbarousl}-
treated by dragoons who were sent to carry her from Mahirmore to
Wigtown ; and being sentenced by Sir Robert Grier of Lagg to be
drowned at a stake within the flood-mark, just below the town of
Wigtown, for conventicle keeping and alleged rebellion, was, accord-
ing to the said sentence, fixed to the stake till the tide made, and
held down within the water by one of the town othcers by his halbert
at her throat, till she died."

(3.) The Minute of the Kirk-session of Penninghame, February 19,
17 1 1. The part of the minute relating to the Wilson family is:
" Gilbert Wilson of Glenvernock, in Castle Stewart's land, being
a man to an excess conform to the guise of the times, and his wife
without challenge for her religion, in good condition as to worldly
things, with a great stock on a large ground (fit to be a prey), was

438 A Cloud of Witnesses.

harassed for his children who would not conform. They being re-
quired to take the Test and hear the curates, refused both ; were
searched for, fled, and lived in the wild mountains, bogs, and caves.
Their parents were charged, on their highest peril, that they should
neither harbour them, speak to them, supply them, nor see them ;
and the country people were obliged by the terror of the law to
pursue them, as well as the soldiers, with hue and cry.

" In February 1685, Thomas Wilson, of sixteen years of age,
Margaret Wilson, of eighteen years, Agnes Wilson, of thirteen years,
children of the said Gilbert — the said Thomas keeping the mountains,
his two sisters, Margaret and Agnes, went secretly to Wigtown to see
some friends, were there discovered, taken prisoners, and instantly
thrust into the thieves' hole as the greatest malefactors ; whence they
were sometimes brought up to the Tolbooth, after a considerable
time's imprisonment, where several others were prisoners for the like
cause, particularly one Margaret Maclauchlan of Kirkinner parish, a
woman of sixty-three years of age.

" After their imprisonment for some considerable time, Mr David
Graham, Sheriff, the Laird of Lagg, Major Winram, Captain Strachan,
called an assize, indicted these three women, viz., Margaret Mac-
lauchlan, Margaret Wilson, Agnes Wilson, to be guilty of the rebellion
at Bothweli Bridge, Airsmoss, twenty field conventicles, and twenty
house conventicles. Yet it was well known that none of these women
ever were within twenty miles of Bothweli or Airsmoss : and Agnes
Wilson, being eight years of age at the time of Airsmoss, could not
be deep in rebellion then, nor her sister of thirteen years of age, and
twelve years at Bothweli Bridge its time. The assize did sit, and
brought them in guilty, and these judges sentenced them to be tied
to palisades fixed in the sand, within the flood mark, and there to
stand till the flood overflowed them and drowned them.

" They received their sentence without the least discouragement,
with a composed smiling countenance, judging it their honour to
suffer for Christ's truth, that He is alone King and Head of His
Church. Gilbert A\'ilson, foresaid, got his youngest daughter,
Agnes Wilson, out of prison, upon his bond of a hundred pounds
sterling, to produce her when called for ; but was obliged to go to
Edinburgh for this before it could be obtained. The time they were
in prison, no means were unessayed with Margaret Wilson, to
persuade her to take the oath of abjuration, and hear the curates, with
threatenings and flattery, but without any success.

Alargarct LanchlaiLe aiui Alargarct I'Vilson. 439

"Upon the eleventh day of May 1685, these two women, Mar-
garet Maclauchlan and Margaret Wilson, were brought forth to
execution. They did put the old woman first into the water, and
when the water was overflowing her, they asked Margaret Wilson
what she thought of her in that case ? She answered, ' What do 1
see but Christ wrestling there ? Think ye that we are sufterers ?
No, it is Christ in us, for He sends none a warfare on their own
charges.' Margaret Wilson sang Psalm xxv., from the 7th verse, read
the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and did pray, and
then the water covered her. But before her breath was quite gone,
they pulled her up, and held her till she could speak, and then asked
her if she would pray for the king. She answered that she wished
the salvation of all men, but the damnation of none. Some of her
relations being on the place, cried out, ' She is willing to conform,'
being desirous to save her life at any rate. Upon which Major Win-
ram offered the oath of abjuration to her, either to swear it, or return
to the waters. She refused it, saying, 'I will not; I am one of Christ's
children ; let me go.' And then they returned her into the water,
where she finished her warfare, being a virgin martyr of eighteen years
of age, suffering death for her refusing to swear the oath of abjuration
and hear the curates.

"The said Gilbert Wilson was fined for the opinion of his
children, harassed with frequent quarterings of soldiers upon him,
sometimes a hundred men at once, who lived at discretion on his
goods, and that for several years together ; and his frequent atten-
dance in the Courts at Wigtown almost every week, at thirteen miles
distance, for three years time ; riding to Edinburgh on these accounts,
so that his losses could not be reckoned and estimated, without
doubt, not within five thousand merks, yet for no principle or action
of his own ; and died in great poverty lately, a few years hence.
His wife, a very aged woman, lives upon the charity of friends. His
son Thomas lived to bear arms under king William in Flanders, and
the castle of Edinburgh ; but had nothing to enter the ground which
they possessed, where he lives to certify the truth of these things,
with many others who knew them too well."

Dr Stewart minutely examines the roll of the Sessions of Kirkinnci
and Penninghame, and the Presbytery of Wigtown, and shows thai
the difterent members had ample opportunities of knowing the truth
of the story of the suflferings of the two martyrs which they attested.

Sheriff Napier has replied to Dr Stewart's book in his " History

440 A Cloud of Wilnesses.

Rescued in answer to History Vindicated ; " but it is not a reply.
It does not set aside any of Dr Stewart's proofs that the martyrs
actually were drowned. Dr Hill Burton is a writer of Whig sympa-
thies ; but he is an Episcopalian, and has really no bias in favour of
the Covenanters, so that his judgment upon Sheriff Napier's " His-
tory Rescued " may be regarded as impartial. In a note appended
to his " History of Scotland," Edinburgh, 1870, vol. vii., p. 549, as it
was passing through the press, he says : " Of course this [i.e., ' His-
tory Rescued'] had to be read before final correction, that it might
be seen whether it contained any new and unexpected discovery.
But the two hundred and seventy additional pages revealed no other
discovery, save a remarkable instance of that well known frailty of
heroic natures, which deprives them of the capacity of knowing that
they are beaten."

As might be expected, the Wigtown martyrs have been the theme
of poetry. One of the happiest of INIrs Stuart Menteith's ballads,
in her " Lays of the Kirk and Covenant," is that entitled " The
Martyrs of Wigtown." The eloquent page in Lord Macaulay's his-
tory, in which he tells the story of their end, has inspired Mr Millais
to one of the best efforts of his pencil in his " Margaret Wilson," in
Once a Week, some years ago.

The date " nth May 1684" is plainly a misprint for nth May
1685. The testimony of Robert Pollock is dated January 23, 1685,
and the succeeding testimony of Thomas Stodart is August 12, 1685,
so that the chronological order requires 1684 to be corrected to
1685, the date on the monument in Wigtown Churchyard over the
grave of Margaret Wilson. — Ed.]

> ^f^ <

PON the nth of May 1684, [168^] Margaret Lauchlane
tWin ^" ^^^^ parish of Kirkinncr, and Margaret "Wilson in Glen-
^ vernock in the .shire of Galloway, being sentenced to death

for their noncompliance with prelacy, and refusing to swear the oath
of abjuration, by the Laird of Lagg, [/.^., Sir Robert Grierson, Captain
Strachan, Colonel [Winram] Mr David Graham, and Provost Cultron
\i.t'., of Wigtown], who commanded them to receive their sentence
on their knees, which they refusing, were pressed down by force till
tney received it : and so were by their order tied to a stake within

Margaret Lauchlane and Margaret Wilson. 44 1

the sea-mark, in the water of Blednoch near Wigtown, where, after
they had made them wrestle long with the waves, which Hewing,
swelled on them by degrees, and had sometimes thrust them under
water, and then pulled them out again to see if they would recant,
they enduring death with undaunted courage, yielded up their spirits
to God.

The former was a widow woman of about sixty-three, of a most
Christian and blameless conversation, a pattern of piety and virtue,
who having constantly refused to hear the curates, was much pursued
and vexed, and at length taken by the soldiers while she was devoutly
worshipping God in her family \ and being indicted of being at Both-
well Bridge, Airsmoss, and twenty field conventicles, and as many
house conventicles, after sore and long imprisonment, without
necessary refreshments of fire, bed, or diet, at length suffered this
cruel death.

The other (Margaret Wilson), a young woman of scarce twenty-
three years of age, after she with her brother, who Avas about nine-
teen, and her sister fifteen years old, had been long driven from
their father's house, and exposed to lie in dens and caves of the
earth, wandering through the mosses and mountains of Carrick,
Nithsdale, and Galloway, going to Wigtown secretly to visit the
foresaid Margaret I^auchlane, was taken by the fraud of one Patrick
Stuart, who, under colour of friendship, having invited her and her
sister to drink with him, offered them the king's health, and upon
their refusal of it, as not warranted in God's Word, and contrary to
Christian moderation, went presently out and informed against them ;
her sister was dismissed, as being but fifteen years of age, upon her
father's paying a hundred pounds sterling for her ransom ; she being
detained and examined, whether she owned the king as head of the
Church and would take the abjuration-oath ; not answering to their
pleasure, but adhering to the truths of Christ, was in like manner
condemned, and after great severities of imprisonment, suffered the
foresaid death ; being put oft into the water, and when half-dead
taken up again, to see if she would take the oath, which she refused
to her last breath. While her fellow sufferer was wrestling with the
waves, as being put first in to discourage her ; the persecutors asked
her what she thouglit of that sight ? She answered, " What do I see
but Christ (mystical) wrestling there?" One of the times that she
was taken out of the water they said, Say "God save the king :" she
returning with Christian meekness, " I wish the salvation of all men.

442

A Cloud oj l^Viinesses.

but the damnation of none :" Upon which one of her friends,
alleging she had said what they demanded, desired them to let her
go ; but they would not, seeing she refused to take the oath.

During her imprisonment she wrote a large letter to her friends,
wherein, besides the lively and feeling expressions of her sense of
God's love, she doth, with a judgment not usual for her age and
education, disclose the unlawful nature of the Abjuration Oath,
hearing of curates, owaiing the king's Supremacy, which was the thing
the persecutors meant by his authority, and proves the necessity of
her suffering upon these heads.

Thomas Stodart.

HE name of Thomas Stodart first occurs in Wodrow under
date July 24th, 1685, in a decree of Council containing
a list of prisoners confined in the Canongate Tolbooth, in
order to be banished to his majesty's plantations abroad. Thomas
Stodart, James Wilkie, Matthew Bryce, are excepted, on the ground
that they " not only obstinately refused the oath of allegiance, but
most impertinently and indiscreetly misbehaved themselves before the
Council." The Council further ordains that they immediately be put
in irons, and grants warrant to his majesty's Advocate to process them
criminally before the justices.

The three were tried on August 6th, and were found guilty of
treason because they refused the Abjuration Oath. They were
sentenced to be hanged at the Grassmarket, Wednesday, August 12th
1685.

In his testimony, Stodart says the reason of his condemnation was
that he could not give such an answer to their questions about the
government and the king's authority as was satisfactory to his judges,
and his refu.sal to disown the Apologetic Declaration. His testimony
is one of much simplicity. Wodrow justly says it is very plain and
natural for a common country man.

Thomas Stodart. 443

Of Matthew Bryce and James Wilkie, mentioned in the paragraph
at the close of Thomas Stodart's testimony, as his fellow-sufferers,
little else is known. Matthew Bryce lived in the parish of Carmun-
nock. Wodrow corrects the date of their execution given in the
"Cloud" as July 27th, into August 12th. — Ed.]

->-<»-♦"•— <^

HE LAST TESTIMONY of Thomas Stodart, who
suffered at the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, August 12th,
1685.

" Men, Brethren, and Fathers, hearken, — I
1) being to take my farewell of the world, I leave this my
dying testimony, according to the form of the Christians
of old ; I havmg like the same ground for it that he
had who used that word ; that was Stephen ; who was condemned,
because he spoke blasphemous words against the law and the temple.
So, because I will not adhere to, nor approve of their laws, which
now have power in their hands, they condemned me to die, though
they could not witness so much against me for speaking against them,
and they never essayed to prove the sentence upon me, which now
I shall study in a word to give you an account of.

" And first, I received my sentence of banishment, and then not-
withstanding of that I was committed to the justices to abide the assize,
and they passed upon me the sentence of death, for no other cause
as I can give, but because I could not give such an answer to their
questions about the government and the king's authority (as they
called it), as could satisfy their lusts, and that I durst not disown the
Apologetic Declaration ; and so I humbly conceive it will come to
this as the ground of my suffering, that I could not own Christ's
enemies nor the power that they have taken to themselves against
Him, nor disown Christ's friends and their actings as they required ;
and therefore I am sentenced, albeit I owned as much of the authority
as any Christian can be obliged to ; that is to say, lawful authority
according to the Word of God ; but I desire to be submissive to His
will who hath called me to this, and to have high thoughts of Him.
I cannot get words to set Him out, but I find something to say to

444 ^i Cloud of Witnesses.

the commendation of Christ, as it is said in Cant. ii. i : ' He is the
rose of Sharon and lily of the valley," the sweetest rose that ever I
smelled, and never sweeter than when under the cross, and suffering
upon His account.

" Now I shall not be long. I have told you upon what account I
suffer ; it is out of love to Christ, and by faith in His mercy, that I
venture upon it. I shall end it with a word. I thought it my duty
to adhere to the \\'ord of God, and to everything agreeable thereto \
and I would suffer for everything as a ground which I think is right,
and taken out of the Word of God, having encouragement from
His blessed promises. ' Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O
Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not : for I have
redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee ' (Isa.
xliii. I, 2).

" And I have this to say also, that in all my imprisonments He
was wonderfully seen in owning me, and carrying me through all the
temptations that I was trysted \i.e.y visited] with ; if I would tell you
them all they would take up much paper and time \ and time being
short I cannot get it done ; but I think I must speak something to
the commendation of free grace, that hath made me to suffer all
cheerfully. I have read in the Apostle, ' It is a faithful saying :
For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him : if we
suffer, we shall also reign with Him ' (2 Tim. ii. 11). It is good at.
all times, but especially now. O but the people of this generation
be greatly involved in sin ; by reason they are so greatly and deeply
involved in the breach of Covenant, which though it must not be
owned by the law of the land, yet I dare not but own it. I would
fain say, as it is said, ' And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth,
before whom I stand, I will surely shww myself unto him to-day'
(i Kings xviii. 15), I own it before all, and I own myself to have
joined, and do allow it heartily in joining with that poor persecuted
party so much disowned. The thing that I did in that case I
thought It my duty. I leave my testimony to my owning of it ; and
that I have joined myself to that which was most agreeable to the
Word of God. I leave my testimony in behalf of these that I
joined with, that little handful in their societies and fellowships,
which have been very refreshful to my soul, and I have been much
delighted in these ; for I thought it was the Church of God.

" And therefore I leave my testimony against all superstition and

TIio}nas Stodart. 445

error, contrary to that way I received of the Lord there, and every-
thing contrary to the Word of God,

" I leave my testimony against all unlawful deeds, and all murder-
ing acts and actings, whatsoever they be.

" I leave my testimony against Popery and Prelacy, and whatso-
ever plant is not of my heavenly Father's planting, and eveiything
contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of godliness.

" I leave my testimony also against these that hear the curates,
and against all them that have said in effect, the Word is a lie ; that
is, because they will not take it to be their rule ; for that is the only
thing we should take to be our rule, in all steps of our sojourning
here.

" Now I think I must take my farewell of all created comforts,
and all the things of the world, which have been so great a mean to
make many of this generation scar \i.e., be frightened] at the cross of
Christ, which is much mistaken by the world. He was so condescend-
ing, that He paved the way for poor sinners Himself, and made it
straight and easy ; and wonderful it is to think upon. The way that
leads to heaven is very straight, and very easy. Also to these that
believe He is that universal King, that lives and reigns forever, and
all who subject themselves and obey Him, and consent to His terms,
shall even know peace and shall enjoy His presence, which is the
chief of all things. It is peace with God that is the matter of the
believer's rejoicing, and makes them all to flighter [/>., flutter or throb]
with joy in following Him, who is the way, the truth, and the life ; and
whom to know is life everlasting ; that doth and may give great
courage to these who love this way of His, that is so greatly
repioached by the people of this generation. I think ye may con-
ceive what I mean by the saying of this. And now, my dear friends
and fellow-sufferers, and brethren in the Lord, O but the counsel of
the Lord be wise, in bringing me hitherto !

" And I shall say no more, but touch at one thing, and that is,
that here I join my hearty testimony with all that ever the people of
God did in His way, and for His cause in His Gospel terms ; to all the
blood that has been shed for the Gospel, in all fields and scaffolds
whatsoever. So I take my farewell of all things under heaven. Fare-
well to the world, the flesh and sin, and also to all friends and rela-
tions, and kinsmen, and brethren ; and also I take my farewell of
mother and brethren, and sisters. And also I bid farewell to all my
wonted privileges and enjoyments. As also, I take my farewell of

446

A Cloud of Witnesses.

all the sweet Societies that have been so refreshful to my soul several
times. Farewell friends in Christ. Farewell sun, moon, and stars.
Welcome heaven. Welcome my God and angels, and glorified
spirits. And so come, Lord Jesus.

"THOMAS STODART."

OGETHER with the foregoing martyr, two others received the
sentence of death, viz., Matthew Bryce and James Wilkie,
who suffered at Edinburgh, July 27 [August 12], 1685.
The former wliereof declares in his testimony, that they were
interrogate only on these two questions :

" I. Will ye take the oath of allegiance? To which they
answered. No, we will not take it.

"2. 'Will yo. own the authority? They answered. We will own
all authority according to the Word of God \ upon which they were
immediately all three sentenced to be hanged. Whence the said
martyr very justly infers that they had nothing else to charge upon
him as the cause of his death, but that he spoke of the Word of God.
His testimony as to all the material heads, is consonant with this of
Thomas Stodart's.

Edward Marshall.

HE notices in the Council Records of Edward Marshall are
very scanty. Under November 19, 1685, Edward Marshall,
forfeited for being at the rebellion 1679, now prisoner in
Falkirk, is appointed by the Council to be brought in to Edinburgh.
Under November 26, they recommend it to the justices [/>., the Lords
of Justiciary] to meet, and, in regard Edward Maishall will not own
the king's authority and was forfeited, that they name the day of his
execution. November 30, the Lords of Justiciary met, and sentenced
him, Edward Marshall, of Kaemuir, forfeited January 17, 1682, for
treasonable crimes, mentioned in the verdict of the assize, and

Edward Mitchell. 447

decerned to be executed to death, demeaned [/.(?., punished] as a
traitor, and underly [/>., undergo] the pains of treason when appre-
hended ; and now being apprehended, the Lords appoint him to be
taken to tlie Grassmarket, on Friday, December 4th, betwixt two and
four in the afternoon, and there to be hanged till dead.

In his testimony he reports the questions that were put to him
on his trial. They were of the usual character. He tells that he
left behind him a wife and seven children.

Kaemuir, where Edward Marshall lived, is a farm near to the
Hill Farm, on the river Avon, in the parish of Muiravonside. There
is no mention of his name in the parish records, and the family left
the district more than forty years ago, previous to our informant, Mr
Henderson, session-clerk, coming into office. The tradition of the
parish is, that a family of the name of Marshall once lived at Kae-
muir, and that one of the family suffered to the death for the cause
of freedom. — Ed.]

.«.

HE LAST TESTLVIONY of Edward Marshall, of
Kaemure, in the parish of Morren Side \i.e., Muiravon-
side], who suffered at the Grassmarket of Edinburgh,
December 4th, 1685.

" First, I leave my testimony against all that have
joined with the malignant party, either in rising in arms,
or in paying of cess, or any manner of way contrary to
our Covenants and Work of Reformation, once famous and maintained
by the whole ministry, noblemen, gentlemen, and commons of all
sorts, but now opposed and borne down by the generality of this
kingdom ; and particularly against such persons as once owned the
Covenant, and avowed the cause of Christ, and are now employing
their strength for overturning the same, as it is in Ps. Ixxiv. 6.

" Now, the things upon which I was accused and sentenced were :
My joining in arms with that party at Bothwell, and owning of the
truth and Covenants, and for adhering thereunto ; for they questioned
me, if I would call it rebellion ? But I would not, but accounted it
my duty.

44^ A Clmid of Witnesses.

"Then they asked me if I would own James VII. as king of
Britain ? And I told them, I owned him as far as he owned God,
His cause, and people.

" Then some of them said, That was not all.

" Then they asked. If I would pray for the king of Britain ? I
answered, This is not a place appointed for prayer.

" Then they laughed, and said, Remove you.

" Now, dear friends, be not discouraged, although they threaten
you with imprisonment or death for the cause of Christ ; for He that
calls you to suffering is able to support and bear you up under it ;
for I found more of His presence since I came to prison, than I did
heretofore : for Christ suffered imprisonment and death for us, and
ought not we to suffer for Mim ? As concerning this, that my
enemies and carnal friends reproach me with self-murder, T am con-
scious to myself, that it is not so, but out of love to Christ and His
covenanted work.

" Now I recommend my wife and seven children to the good
guiding of my God, who hath hitherto protected me; for He has
promised to be a husband to the widow, and a father to the father-
less, providing they will walk in His ways, and keep His command-
ments. Now, I recommend my soul to God, who hath preserved me
hitherto, and who unexpectedly has singled me out to suffer for Him,
who am the unworthiest of all sinners, and I never thought that He
should have so highly privileged me, as to account me worthy to give
a testimony for Him, though sometimes it entered into my thoughts,
O if I would be called to it !

'• Now, farewell dear wife and sweet children. Farewell all friends

and relations, especially such of you as have given up your names to

Christ. Farewell sun, moon, and all worldly enjoyments. Welcome

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands I commit my spirit.

" Sic subscribitur,

" EDWARD MARSHALL."

ToRwooD Castle, Stirlingshire.

John Nisbet.

pHN NISBET, of Hardhill, is one of the most interesting
of the sufferers during the twenty-eight years' persecution.
His great-grandfather, Murdoch, attached himself to the
precursors of the Reformation in Scotland — the Lollards of Kyle.
In consequence of the persecution that arose, Murdoch had to flee
from Scotland, and took a copy of the New Testament "in writ"
with him. The manuscript New Testament was preserved in the
family till John Nisbet's time, and had been bequeathed to the
martyr by his father, a man who is said to have very carefully trained
up his family in the fear of God.

John Nisbet was of a tall and powerful frame. Like his friend
Captain Paton, in the neighbouring parish of Fenwick, he passed his
early manhood in military service abroad. He returned to his native
country shortly after the peace of Miinster in 1648, which closed the
Thirty Years' War, and soon afterwards had the happiness to be
married to Margaret Law, a young woman, says his son, " who proved
to him an equal, true, and kind yoke-fellow."

He was present at the battle of Pentland, November 28, 1666,
and was left for dead upon the field, but he revived and escaped
under covert of night, although it was a year before his wounds were
entirely healed. The soldiers came to the house in quest of him,
"but missing him" (says the son, in a passage in his Diary, which gives
a vivid picture of the sufferings of the time, extracts from which Dr
M'Crie has given in the Appendix to the Memoirs of Veitch and
Brysson), " they held a drawn sword to my mother's breast" [who was
soon to give birth to a child, the writer of the Diary], " threatening to
run her through unless she would discover her husband. She, weep-
ing, told them that for anything she knew he was killed (for she
heard that it was so), and that she had not seen him ; so they took
what made for [i.e., suited] them in the house, and went off."

'' But some days after, getting notice that he was still alive, they
returned with greater fury than before, and threatened her with pre-

450 A Cloud of Wiliiesses.

sent death, first with a drawn sword at her breast, and also with a
bended pistol; and contrary to all law, Divine and human, they
dragged her alongst with them, with a burning candle in her hand,
through all the rooms of the main house, and then through all the
office houses, they still raging with their drawn swords and bended
pistols ; but, after all their search, they, missing my fathei, beat the
servants, to strike the greater terror on my mother to tell where her
husband was; but she could not.

" Then they took a young man, called David Finlay, alongst with
them to where their chief commander lay, called General Dalziel.
He caused the said David Finlay to be shot to death in less than
half-an-hour's warning, and carried away all my father's stock of
moveable effects, which was considerably great; and for half-a-year
there was hardly a day ever passed but they were at the house, eithei
in the night or day, in search of my father.

" In the year 1678, there was a great host of Highlanders came
down in the middle of the winter to the Western shires. The shire
of x-Vyr was the centre of their encampment or cantoning, where
they pillaged, plundered, thieved, and robbed night and day ; even
the Lord's day they regarded as little as any other.

" At their first coming, four of them came to my father's house,
who was overseeing the making of his own malt ; they told him they
were come to make the Fig (so they termed the Presbyterians) [i.e.,
Whig] to take with God and the king. This they came over again
and again. They pointed to his shoes, and said they would have the
brogue off his foot, and accordingly laid hands on him, but he threw
himself out of their grips, and turning to a pitchfork which was used
at the stalking of his corn, and they having their broadswords drawn,
cried ' Claymore,' and made at him ; but he quickly drove them out
of the kiln, and, chasing them all four a pace from the house, knocked
one of them to the ground.

"The next day about twenty of them came to the house, but he
not being at home, they told that they were come to take the Fig
[i.e., Whig] and his arms. They plundered his house, as they did the
house of every other man who was not conform to the then laws ; and
such were their thievish dispositions, and so well versed were they at
the second sight, that, let people hide never so well, these men would
go straight to where it was, whether beneath the ground or above, as
though they had been at the putting of it there, search for it, dig it
up, and away with it.

John Nisbet. 45 i

" When my father came [to Drumclog], the good people who
were met to hear sermon, and the enemy, were drawn up in battle
array in order to fight. Five or six of the gentlemen who came to hear
sermon, that were most fit to command the country people, took upon
them to command, because some of tliem had been formerly in the
military, as likewise my father had been ; two of whom went to meet
my father when within sight, and gave him an account how matters
were, and pointed out to him where Mr King was guarded on the
left of the enemy by an ofificer and four dragoons ; and the officer
had orders to shoot Mr King if they lost ; and if the country people
lost, all that were or should be taken prisoners were to be hanged
immediately after battle. My father being a strong, bold, and reso-
lute man, went on boldly and in all parts of the action, especially in
the relief of Mr King, whom he set at liberty ; which boldness and
activity of his was much taken notice of by the enemy. The enemy
lost that day, and had about thirty or thirty-five of their number
slain, whereof they said my father killed seven with his own hand,
which much exposed him and all his to their after revenging fury."

At Bothwell Bridge, according to Wodrow, he was a captain.
He occupied the post of danger at the bridge, and stood as long as
any man would stand by him. In the retreat he managed to escape.
He was denounced as a rebel, and three thousand merks set upon
his head. His property was confiscated, and his wife and children
turned adrift upon the world, and all threatened with a like punishment
who dared to harbour him and his.

His wife was a woman of a heroic spirit, and though she and her
family had (like those in an earlier age, of whom Inspiration hath
declared the world was not worthy) to wander about in deserts and
in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, she sympathised
with him, and never, says her son, was heard or seen to show the
least discontent with her lot. For more than four years she bore
up under her trials, till in December 1683, after an illness of eight
days, death brought them to a close. She died in " a sheep's cot,
where was no light nor fire but that of a candle, no bed but that of
straw, no stool but the ground to sit on."

It was some time ere the tidings of her death reached her
husband. He immediately hastened to the place where she died.
When he entered the hut the dead body had been in the grave
for several days, and new calamities had fallen upon him. The
first sight he beheld was the chesting of his daughter, who had

452 A Cloud of Witnesses.

died a few hours before ; and on looking round the hut, in a
corner lay two of his sons, in the delirium of fever. He spoke
to them, but they were unconscious of his presence ; at which he
groaned, records his son, and, in the language of the patriarch of
Uz — language in which pious resignation in the midst of calamity
has so often found utterance — said, ' Naked came I into this world,
and naked must I go out of it : the Lord is making my passage
easy." Under the protection of midnight the body of the daughter
was buried in Stonehouse Churchyard, as had been done to the
mother eight days before. Next day a search was made for the
bereaved husband and father, but for this time he escaped their hands.

He was at last taken on a Sabbath morning, in the beginning
of November 1684, when at Midland, a farm-house in Fenwick parish.
The old house has been since pulled down, and a new one erected
on its site. He, with Peter Gemmel, George Woodburn, and an
old man, John Ferguson or Fergushill, from Mains of Enterkin,
Tarbolton parish, had met for prayer and conference the preceding
eveiiing, to allay some difference that had arisen in the branch of
the United Societies to which they belonged. They had not been
long assembled when they learned that Lieutenant Nisbet, a cousin
of Hardhill, and a party of soldiers, were in quest of them. In
the morning they resolved to separate, but after leaving the house
they were obliged to return, on account of the illness of John Fergus-
hill. The soldiers soon came in sight, and spent an hour in search-
ing the house, but failed to find out where the four were concealed,
and so they left Midland. On the way two men met them, one of
whom, it is said, told them, " They were good seekers, but ill finders."
They returned, and their renewed search was successful.

The four defended themselves as best they could. They had only
three charges, which they shot away, save one which missed fire, and
they received twenty-four in return. When the soldiers next dashed
in upon them, they kept them at bay with their empty guns, used as
clubs. At last the soldiers threatened to fire the house, when they
went out, John Nisbet foremost, who got his back to the wall, and
stood and defended himself In a short time he received seven
wounds, but still maintained his ground, when the commander came
to his assailants and asked, " Why had they not despatched this
obstinate rebel." But the moment he saw him, he recognised him,
and cried, " Ho ! it is Hardhill ; spare his life, for the Council has
offered 3000 merks for him." He ordered bedclothes to be brought,

John Nisbet. 453

which were thrown over him, and prevented him from wielding his
sword, and he was thus secured. His three companions were shot
dead. John Nisbet was then, as is narrated in the account pre-
ceding his testimony, taken to Edinburgh, where he was examined
before the Council.

He was tried, November 30th, and found guilt}-, and sentenced
to be hanged at the Grassmarket, December 4th. He must have
employed his time diligently during the four days that intervened
between his sentence and his execution, for, besides the testimony in
this volume, we have in our possession a MS. quarto volume, in the
writing of John Howie, of Lochgoin, which contains another with the
following title : " The Testimony of John Nisbet, who lived at Hard-
hill, in the parish of Loudon, from the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, 1685."
It is about a third shorter than that given in the "Cloud." Its closing
sentences are —

" Now, in all I have said, possibly some may mistake me, and
say that I commend myself. But thus and thus I have said, to com-
mend the goodness of God. with whom there is no respect of persons.
For I can say, from long and sad experience, that of all that have
been privileged to suffer for truth, I have been the most notorious
sinner ; and this I leave under my hand, when I am now within seven
or eight hours to enter into eternity, that all may wonder and admire
the condescension of free grace and rich love so freely bestowed upon
me. To the commendation of His matchless goodness. He has passed
by guiltiness and sin in me beyond many. . . . And now I shall
shut up my time, and discourse with this. Let all wonder, admire,
and praise Him for what he has done to me and for me."

John Howie adds the following note :

'■' N.B. — Let none doubt of the veracity of this testimony . . .
although it be not the same as to matter or method with that pub-
lished first in quarto by his son — a soldier in the Castle of Edin-
burgh— and now in the ' Cloud of Witnesses,' perhaps it might be
either by him corrected and enlarged, or else wrote at a later time,
as the one is more full on his own case, and the other less so.

(Signed), "John Howie, Jany. 1776."

Neither Wodrow nor the " Cloud " gives an account of his last
hours. A quaintly-expressed and deeply-interesting narrative is
appended to his life. It is —

" An Appendix, related and attested by some of his intimate
acquaintance, that were eye and ear witnesses to his martyrdom."

454 ^ Cloud of Witnessts.

" This valiant Christian, and faithful courageous martyr for truth,
John Nisbet, in Hardhill, with whom we were for many years fami-
liarly acquainted, was a strict observer of the Sabbath, a great exa-
miner of the Scriptures, a great wrestler in prayer, reserved always as
to his own case and soul's concernment ; nor did many know how it
was with him as to that, till he came to prison. Notwithstanding, he
was always ready to contend for truth when it was opposed (which
he usually termed precious), and had Scripture ready at all times to
back what he spoke, either directly or by necessary consequence to
the purpose in hand. . . .

" After he wrote this his last speech, he was taken out imme-
diately to the Council, and from that to the place of execution ; all
the way thither he had his eyes lifted up to heaven, his face shined
visibly, he seemed to rejoice, but spoke little till he came to the
scaffold. When he came there he jumped up on it, and cried out :
'My soul doth magnify the Lord, my soul doth magnify the Lord;
I have longed these sixteen years to seal the precious cause and
interest of precious Christ with my blood. And now, now He hath
answered and granted my request, and has left me no more ado, but
to come here and pour forth my last prayers, sing forth my last praise
to Him in time on this sweet and desirable scaffold, mount that
ladder, and then I shall quickly get home to my Father's house, see,
enjoy, serve and sing forth the praises of my glorious Redeemer, for
ever more, world without end.'

" Then he resumed the heads of his last testimony to the truth,
and enlarged upon what he owned and what he disowned. But
drums were always caused be beat when he spoke to the people,
which you are sure deprived us much of the satisfaction that other-
wise we might have had ; yet over this difficulty we heard him
say : ' The covenanted God of Scotland hath a dreadful storm of
wrath provided, which He will surely pour out suddenly and unex-
pectedly like a thunderbolt upon these covenanted lands, for their
perfidy, treachery, and woeful apostacy ; and then men shall say,
They have won well away that got a scaffold for Christ.

"He exhorted* all to make much use of Christ for a hiding-place,
for blood, blood, blood shall be the judgment of these lands. He
sang the first six verses of the 34th Psalm, and read the eighth to the
Romans. He offered prayer with great presence of mind and very
loud ; but for noise of drums, as hath been said, we could not dis
tinctly hear what he either spoke or prayed, except when his face was

John Nisbet. 455

toward the place where we stood, so that in such disturbing circum-
stances this is all of his scaffold speech that we could safely gather.
He went up the ladder rejoicing and praising the Lord, which we all
evidently saw.

" Thus he died 4th December 1685, the fifty-eighth year of his age,
with the full assurance of his interest in the ever-blessed Lord Jesus
Christ ; as also of the Lord's returning to this poor land to raise up
the fallen tabernacle of David therein in a more remarkable way and
manner than ever, which sight he saw afar off by faith, and rejoiced
thereat."

His testimony, as given in the following pages, contains a very
large amount of passages from Scripture. These passages seem
merely to have been cited by him, but were printed at full length,
when pubhshed by his son James, who issued in 1718 "A true rela-
tion of the life and sufferings of John Nisbet, in Hardhill." It was
reprinted in 1847, in the second volume of " Select Biographies,"
edited for the Wodrow Society, by the late Rev. W. K. Tweedie, D.D.,
Edinburgh. In substance it is given in the following pages. John
Howie has given him a place among the Scots Worthies, and from
tradition and manuscript sources, has told some facts not to be found
elsewhere. — -Ed.]

> ^f^ <

N the 4th of December 1685, suffered John Nisbet, in Hard-
hill, in the parish of Loudon, whose testimony, though it be
extant, could not be found by the publishers of these
speeches ; only that the memory of so eminent a martyr be not buried,
take this short relation, which is all the account they could find con-
cerning his sufferings. [In the fourth edition of 1741, John Nisbet's
testimony is inserted with the following note : " The testimony
of this martyr is now come to the hands of the publisher of this
edition, and is inserted in its proper place, immediately after this
account." — Ed.]

About the year 1664, he, having received the sacrament of
baptism to his child, from one of the outed ministers [John Black-
ader], came to be troubled by the enemies on that account, and the
curate declared out of the pulpit his purpose to excommunicate him
the next Lord's day, but was prevented by sudden death. When that
handful of the Lord's people renewed the Covenants at Lanark, and

456 A Cloud of Witnesses.

appeared in arms at Pentland Hills, he engaged in the covenant with
them, and was sore wounded in the fight, insomuch that he was left
for dead. But by God's goodness he recovered, and all alongst
testified against the abominations of Prelacy, Supremacy, Arbitrary
Government, and Indulgence, till the rising in arms at Bothwell, where
he did good service, being not only a zealous Christian, but a coura-
geous soldier. After this the enemies seized all his goods, expelled
his wife and four small children from house and hold, and offered a
large sum of money for himself; but the Lord preserved him, while
He had work for him.

He was a close follower of the Gospel faithfully preached in the
fields ; was kept steadfast in the truth from extremes on right or left
hand; and was assistant in publishing the declarations for truth,
emitted during that time.

At length, in November 1685, being in a poor man's house in
the parish of Fenwick, with other three, after he was sore wounded,
he was taken by Lieutenant Nisbet, the other three being shot dead
on the spot. The lieutenant having caused tie him, asked, ' What he
thought of himself now?' He answered, 'I think as much of Christ
and His cause, for which I suffer, as ever, but I judge myself at a
loss, being in time, and my dear brethren in eternity, whom you have
unjustly murdered.' The bloody wTCtch swore that he had reserved
him for a further judgment. He answered, ' If the Lord stand by
me, and help me to be faithful to the death, I care not what piece of
suffering I be put to endure.'

He was carried first to Kilmarnock, from thence to Ayr next
morning, and being brought back to Kilmarnock again, was thence
transported to Edinburgh, where, being brought before the Council
by the foresaid Lieutenant Nisbet, who demanded his money for him
they interrogated him to this effect.

" Q: Were you at that conventicle? (naming time and place).

''A. Yes.

" Q. How many men and arms were there ?

" A. I went there to hear the Gospel preached, and not to take
an account of what men and arms were there.

" Q. Which way went ye when the preaching was done ?

" A. Which way we could best think of, to escape your cruelty.

" Q. A\Tiere keep ye your General Meetings, and what do you at
them?

"While he was about to answer, one of the Councillors inter-

yohn Nisbet. 457

rupted him, telling in his fashion what was done at such General
Meetings, and that there was one of them kept at Edinburgh, and
asked the prisoner if he was there ? who answered, No,

" Then they said to him, We hope you are so much of a Christian,
as to pray for the king. He answered, Prayer being a holy ordinance
of God, we ought to pray for kings as well as others, but not when
every profligate bids us.

" Q. Do you own the king as sole sovereign ?

" A. He being Popish, and that from his youth, and I a Protes-
tant of the Presbyterian covenanted persuasion, I neither can nor will
own him, while he remains such.

Whereupon, incontinent \i.e., forthwith], without further process,
they passed sentence upon him, which he received not only with
Christian submission, but with much thankfulness, blessing and
praising his God, who had counted him worthy to suffer for His
name. And during the time of his imprisonment he was wonderfully
assisted and graciously supported of the Lord under his cross,
having both assurance of the pardon of his sins, and his peace with
God, and also a firm persuasion of the justness of the cause and
work to which he adhered, and for which he was put to such suffer-
ings. Besides the seven wounds which he received when he was
apprehended, he had a merciless weight of irons upon him, during
the whole time of his imprisonment.

In his testimony he invites and exhorts all to embrace the
cross, encouraging them by his own sweet experience of God's
presence under it, declares his adherence to all the truths contained
in the Word of God, summed up in the Confession of Faith, sworn
to in the Covenants, and sealed with the blood and faithful testi-
monies of former martyrs, and, among others then controverted, to
the " Method of transmitting a Testimony," taken by the reverend
Mr James Renwick, and the suffering remnant. He manifests his
detestation of all the courses of defection, and witnesses against all
the wrongs done to Jesus Christ, either in His cause or in His
members ; and particularly bears testimony against the Earl of
Argyle's misstating the quarrel in his Declaration, and his too lax
and promiscuous admitting of all sorts into his army. He concludes
with a solemn farewell to the world, and recommendation of his
soul into the hands of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

The above narrative was transmitted by one of his nearest
relations, who had full knowledge of the whole matter.

458 A Cloud of Wit7iesses.

M>^

i^a.

.• HE LAST AND DYING TESTIMONY of John

NiSBET in Hardhill, which he deUvered to a friend in

the Ironhouse, when he was taken out to the scaffold

^fr.^-^s^^? in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, where he died,

Friday, December 4th, 1685.

^(^^) "I have always thought, that to live for Christ and

^ die for Christ is a sufficient testimony for truth ; yet

now, when I am within a few hours of eternity, to prevent mistakes,
to satisfy my dear friends and let them know how it is with me, and
to let the world know what I die witnessing for, and testifying against,
I judge it proper to leave a few lines behind me.

"As for myself, it hath pleased the Lord Jehovah, of His super-
abundant goodness and infinite mercy, powerfully to determine my
heart to close with, and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is
made offer of in the everlasting Gospel, for my king, priest and
prophet. And that this conquest and captivating of me to His
obedience (who was an heir of wrath and a mass of sin and sinful
corruption), is the fruit of electing love, according as it is manifested
in the covenant of free, free, free grace, will evidently appear from these
Scriptures following, which He, by the power and concurrence of
His holy Spirit, hath made effectual to the convincing, converting,
strengthening, and enabling of me to be His, and to be for Him
through weal, and through woe, through good report, and through
bad report ; and they are so many sweet cordials to my soul, when
stepping out of time into eternity.

" ' Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power ' (Ps. ex.
3), 'For the children being not yet born, neither having done any
good or evil, that the purpose of God acccording to election might
stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth. For he saith to Moses
[see Exod. xxxiii. 19], I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy ;
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So
then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God
that sheweth mercy '(Rom. ix. 11, 15, 16), 'God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit,
and belief of the truth ' (2 Thess. ii. 13). ' Then 1 was by Him, as one
brought up with Him : and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always

John Nisbet. 459

before Him ; rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth ; and my
dehghts were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto
me, O ye children ; for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear
instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that
heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my
doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of
the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul : all
they that hate me love death ' (Prov. viii. 30-36). ' For whom He
did foreknow. He also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also
called : and whom He called, them He also justified : and whom He
justified, them He also glorified. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him that loved us ' (Rom. viii. 29, 30,
35> 37)- ' Iri whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the Gospel of your salvation : in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is
the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of His glory' (Eph. i. 13, 14). 'Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began' (2 Tim. i. 9).
' Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according
to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour ' (Titus iii. 5, 6). ' God is faithful,
by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ
our Lord ' (i Cor. i. 9). ' Being justified freely by His grace, through
the redemption that is in Jesus Christ ; whom God hath set forth to
be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteous-
ness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God' (Rom. iii. 24, 25). 'Even as David also describeth the
blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness
without works ' (Rom. iv. 6). ' How much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot
to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God ' (Heb. ix. 14). ' To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ;

460 A Cloud of Witnesses.

and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation' (2 Cor. v. 19).
' That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; and
to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fulness of God' (Eph. iii. 17-19). 'Know-
ing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we ha\'e believed in Jesus Christ, that we
might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the
law : for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified ' (Gal. ii.
16). 'For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ' (Rom. v. 17).
' All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me ; and him that
Cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the Father's
will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I
should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day '
(John vi. 37, 39). ' For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink ;
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ' (Rom. xiv.
17). 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
(Rom. viii. i). ' These things have I written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God ; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God '
(i John V. 13). 'And be renewed in the spirit of your mind ' (Eph.
iv. 23). ' And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that whicli is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith : that I may know Him, and
the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being made conformable unto His death ' (Phil. iii. 9, 10). 'There-
fore we are buried with Him by baptism into death : that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life ' (Rom. vi. 4). ' But the
path of the just is as the shining light, that .shineth more and more
unto the perfect day' (Prov. iv. 18). 'Being confident of this very
thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ ' (Phil i. 6). ' Nevertheless my
loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faith-
fulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing
that is gone out of my lips ' (Ps. Ixxxix. 33, 34). ' Therefore being

John Nisbet. 461

justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ : by whom also we have access by faith into this grace where-
in we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God ' (Rom, v. i, 2).
' Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time' (i Pet. i. 5). 'And if chil-
dren, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ : if so be
that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together '
(Rom. viii. 17). 'For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek' (Rom. i. 16). 'To whom
God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles ; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory ' (Col. i. 27). ' Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for
I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your
souls ' (Matt. xi. 29). ' Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He
shall sustain thee : He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved '
(Ps. Iv. 22). ' For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds ' (2 Cor. x.
4). ' I will cry unto God most high ; unto God that performeth all
things for me ' (Ps. Ivii. 2). ' He that covereth his sins shall not
prosper ; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy '
(Prov. xxviii. 13). 'But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing
aloud of thy mercy in the morning : for thou hast been my defence
and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength,
will I sing : for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy '
(Ps. lix. 16, 17). 'Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led
captivity captive : thou hast received gifts for men ; yea, for the
rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed
be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our
salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation ; and
unto God the Lord belong the issues from death' (Ps. Ixviii. 18-20).
' For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis-
solved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens' (2 Cor. v. i). 'To the general assembly and
church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the
Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to
Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel ' (Heb. xii. 23,
24). Ps. xlv. from the ist to the 9th verses ; John i. ist' to the 15th
verses, and xviii. throughout ; Isa. liii. to the end ; with many more.

462 A do ltd of Witnesses.

" Let none reflect upon me for citing so much, for the Scripture
hath been to me from my youth the Hving oracles of His divine and
sacred h'ps. When I was crying, ' What shall I do to be saved ? '
and when I was saying, ' How shall I know the way of the Lord that
I may walk therein ? ' then His Word was ' a light to my feet and a
lamp to my path,' exhorting me, as it is in Isaiah Iv. 1-8 — ' Ho, every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ;
come, ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without
money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that
which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth not ?
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let
your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto
me : hear, and your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlasting
covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold I have
given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to
the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not,
and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the
Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel ; for He hath glori-
fied thee. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon
Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and
He will have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for He will abun-
dantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord.' ' And Jesus said unto them,
I am the bread of life : he that cometh to me shall never hunger 3
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst' (John vi. 35). ' Be-
hold, I stand at the door, and knock : if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me ' (Rev. iii. 20). ' Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that
thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered
thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not
obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children,
saith the Lord ; for I am married unto you : and I will take you one
of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. Return,
ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold,
we come unto thee ; for thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain
is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of moun-
tains : truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel ' (Jer. iii.
13, 14, 22, 23). ' O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God ; for thou
hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the

yo/in Nisbet. 463

Lord : say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously :
so will we render the calves of our lips ' (Hosea, xiv. 1,2). 'I have
surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus ; Thou hast chastised
me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke :
turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord my God '
(Jer. xxxi. 18.) ' Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' (John xiv. 6).
And the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And let him that heareth
say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will,
let him take the Avater of life freely ' (Rev. xxii. 17).

" When I was grappling with sin, Satan, and the world, and my
own wicked and deceitful heart, the grand enemies of my salvation,
His Word was as props and pillars to me : so that though I got
my wounds, and was oft sorely beat, yet at the last I came off vic-
torious, by the help of Him who is God all-sufificient to all who,
through grace, lay hold on Him for help. It is by Him that I have
fought the good fight, that I have finished my course ; and that I
have kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at
that day. It is by Him, shining in His Word, that I know all my
manifold sins and transgressions are freely pardoned, and that I have
a just right and title to what is expressed (i Cor. i. 30). So that now
the guilt and condemning power of sin, being fully pardoned by a
judicial act of God's free and sovereign grace, through the merits of
the Lord Jesus Christ, effectually applied and witnessed unto by the
Holy Spirit, upon and to my spirit, there is no room left me to
doubt any more of my being freely justified by Him, of my being in
union with Him, and in a state of grace, or the power, dominion, and
filth of sin, original and actual, being subdued, taken off, and washed
away by the virtue of the Spirit of sanctification, being created anew
in Christ Jesus unto good works : and being sanctified throughout in
soul, body, and spirit, and made meet to be a partaker of the inherit-
ance of the saints in light, by Him who loved me, and gave Himself
to the death for me, and redeemed me by power and by price.

" Now being in such a case of communion with Him, I am
pained till I be freed of the remains of a body of sin and death, till
I be freed of the world and all things therein, and also of this natural
life, and be possessed of Himself and with Himself, in His eternal
inheritance, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away;
a place which He hath provided for all whom He hath chosen, for all

464 A Cloud of Witnesses.

whom He hath called, for all whom He hath justified, and all whom
He hath sanctified. Oh ! to be there, where I shall sin no more,
where I shall be tempted no more, neither feel any more of His
hidings, the withdrawings of His Spirit's presence and light of His
glorious countenance ; but shall be ever with Him, see Him as He
is, and serve Him for ever and ever.

" Now, my dear friends in Christ, I have always, since the public
Resolutioners were for bringing in the malignants and their interest,
thought it my duty to join with the Lord's people in witnessing
against these sinful courses ; and now we see clearly that it has
ended in nothing less than making us captains that we may return to
Egypt by the open doors that are made wide, to bring in Popery
and set up idolatry in the Lord's covenanted land, to defile it, and
thereby to provoke Him to pour down His fierce wrath upon it, and
the inhabitants thereof.

"Wherefore it is the unquestionable and indispensable duty of
all who have any love to God, to His Son the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the thriving of His kingdom, to their own souls' salvation, and to
the following generation, to act a close, constant, and needy
dependence on the Lord Jehovah's all-sufficiency, for light, for
counsel, for direction, for strength and stability, to make conscience
in bearing testimony for Him, for His persecuted truth, work, and
interest in these lands, which was sworn to with uplifted hands
to God the searcher of all hearts. And O that herein all could
act a faithful part for Him who hath done so much for poor
Avretched us, when we were lying dying and rotting in our blood-red
sins, when passing by us with His love and life-giving visit, saying
unto us, ' Live, live.'

" And on the other hand, to witness faithfully, constantly, and
conscientiously against all that the enemies have done, or are doing,
to the overthrow of the glorious Work of Reformation, and banish-
ing Christ out of these lands, by robbing Him of His crown
rights (for He and He alone is head of His own Church), and
by burning the Covenants, which are the marriage bonds betwixt
Him and these lands ; and by persecuting His gospel ministers and
members, who are labouring to keep their garments clean, and
their hands free of all the corruptions and compliances in these evil
times. And however it be, that many, both ministers and professors,
are turning their backs upon Clirist and His cross, reproaching and
casting dirt upon you and the testimony of the day, yet let not

John Nisbet. 465

this weaken your hands, stumble, nor discourage you from going
on in the strength of the Lord your God, to contend earnestly for
the faith once delivered to the saints, and witness a good confes-
sion for Him and His cause, resisting unto blood, striving against
sin; and herein let your soul possess itself with patience; for I
assure you, it will not be long to the fourth watch. And then He
will come with garments dyed in blood, to raise up saviours
upon the mount of Zion, to judge the mount of Esau; and then the
house of Jacob and Joseph shall be a fire, and the malignants,
Prelates, and Papists, shall be for stubble; the flame whereof shall
be great.

" But my generation work being done with my time, I go to
Him who loved me, and washed me from all my sins, to Him who
has counted me worthy to suffer for His name. And O that I had
many lives to lay down for Him, and much blood to seal His
noble and honourable cause with, even that He, who graciously
pitied, and hath now given me the full assurance of being a member
of His Church triumphant, which is the new Jerusalem, and city
of the hving God !

" I die adhering to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ment as the undoubted Word of God, an unerring rule of faith and
manners, and a firm foundation for principle and practice in the
ways of godUness and true holiness. ' All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness ' (2 Tim. iii. 16).

" And [I die adhering to] the Confession of Faith, Catechisms
Larger and Shorter, as agreeable thereunto, and safely founded
thereupon. ' Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast
heard of me in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus ' (2 Tim. i. 13).
' Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go
on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith towards God ' (Heb. vi. i) ; [and] the
Sum of Saving Knowledge, the Directory for Church Government in
her doctrine, worship, and discipline.

" I own all the attained unto pieces of Reformation in the
Church of Scotland, particularly betwixt the years 1638, and 1649,
the Covenants, National and Solemn League, the Acknowledgment
of Sins, and Engagement to Duties.

" I own the Protestation given by the Remonstrators against the
Public Resolutioners, the Apologetical Declaration, and all Declara-

466 A Cloud of Witnesses.

tions hitherto emitted at Rutherglen, Sanquhar, and Lanark ; with
all dying speeches and testimonies of these who have sealed the
truth with their blood, so far as they agree with God's holy
Word.

" I own all the appearances in arms that have been at Pent-
land, Drumclog, Bothwell, Airsmoss, and elsewhere, against God's
stated enemies, and the enemies of the Gospel, as it hath been
preached by all Christ's faithful ambassadors in Scotland since the
Reformation, and now by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr James
Renwick ; and the testimony of the day as it is stated and carried
on by him and his adherents at home and abroad — [abroad referreth
principally to Messrs John Brown, John Nevay, and Robert M'Ward,
who were banished to Holland by King Charles and the Duke of
Lauderdale. Note in edition of 1 718. — Ed.] — and kingly government
as appointed and emitted in the Word of God, they entering Covenant
ways, and with Covenant qualifications ; but I am persuaded Scot-
land's covenanted God will cut off the name of the Stuarts, because
they have stated themselves against religion. Reformation, and the
thriving of Christ's kingdom and kingly government in these lands.
And although men idolise them much now, yet ere long there shall
none of them be to tyrannise in covenanted Britain any more.

" On the other hand, I die protesting against, and disowning
Popery in all its superstitious bigotry and bloody cruelty ; and Pre-
lacy the mother of Popery ; and all that depends upon that
hierarchy; and the unhinging and overthrowing of the glorious
work of Reformation by their woeful Act Rescissory : burning the
Covenant, turning out Gospel ministers, filling their rooms with
profane erroneous curates, and setting up Charles Stuart to be head of
the Church ; and so robbing Christ of His royal and incommunicable
prerogatives by their cursed Act of Supremacy.

" 1 protest against the putting malignants into places of power and
trust in Church, State, and annies \ and all declarations* anywhere
published, tending thereunto ; and against all paying of stent, cess,
and locality, to strengthen the enemies' hands to persecute Christ in
His members ; and all shedding of their blood in fields, seas, scaf-
folds, prisons, or any othen\ise _; and all robbing, plundering, or
spoiling them of their goods ; and all raising of the hue and cry after
them ; and all sinful oaths, such as the Oath of Supremacy, the Bond

* Here the reader is referred to that relation of his, which in this particular is
at more length expressed in the short account before this testimony.

Jofui Nisbet. 467

of Peace, the Test, the Oath of Conformity, the Abjuration Oath, and
the Oath Superinquirendis.

" I die testifying against the woeful Indulgence, the fruits and con-
sequences of which have so much strengthened the enemy, increased
our divisions, widened our breaches, and deadened the spirits and
cooled the zeal of the Lord's people, stumbled and offended the
weak, and in a great measure retarded the carrying on of a testimony
for truth, by condemning the things contended for, and reproaching
these that contend for truth.

" Wherefore, I leave my testimony against all the acceptors
thereof, and all ministers and professors, who are any way guilty of
any of the woeful defections and sinful compliances with the enemies
of truth, or any way guilty of condemning, reproaching, and ridiculing
Mr James Renwick and his correspondents, or the testimony which
they are carrying on. And let all such ministers and professors know
that this their practice, at the best, is a denying of Christ, and a shift-
ing of His cross. Therefore let them take warning, and ponder these
Scriptures : ' Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him
will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven. He that loveth father or mother more
than me is not worthy of me : and he that loveth son or daughter more
than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and
foUoweth after me, is not worthy of me' (Matt. x. 32, 33, 37, 38).
' Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me' (Matt,
xvi. 24 ; Mark viii. 34). ' For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it ; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's,
the same shall save it ' (Mark viii. 35 ; Matt. x. 39). ' For what
is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?' (Matt. xvi.
25, 26 ; Mark viii. 36, 37). " Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed
of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation ; of
him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the
glory of His Father with the holy angels ' (Mark viii. 38). ' For the
Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that 1
should not walk in the way of His people, saying. Say ye not, A con-
federacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy ;
neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts
Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.

468 A CLo2id of Witnesses.

And He shall be for a sanctuary ; but for a stone of stumbling and
for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a
snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many amorg them shall
stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and je taken' (Isa.
viii. 11-15), as is expressed ver. 9, 10 of the same chapter. ' My son,
if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us,
let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without
cause : let us swallow them up alive as the grave ; and whole, as
those that go down into the pit : we shall find all precious substance,
we shall fill our houses with spoil : cast in thy lot among us ; let us
all have one purse : my son, walk not thou in the way with them ;
refrain thy foot from their path : for their feet run to evil, and make
haste to shed blood ' (Prov. i. 10-16). Woe unto them that call evil
good, and good evil ; that put darkness for light, and light for dark-
ness ; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter ! Woe unto
them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight !
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness
of the righteous from him ! Therefore as the fire devoureth the
stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as
rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust : because they have
cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the
Holy One of Israel ' (Isa. v. 20, 21, 23, 24). ' He that justifieth the
wicked, and He that condemneth the just, even they both are
abomination to the Lord' (Prov. xvii. 15). 'They hate him that
rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly '
(Amos v. 10). ' For if I build again the things which I destroyed, 1
make myself a transgressor ' (Gal. ii. 18). ' But unto the wicked, God
saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou
shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest
instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a
thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with
adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth
deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother ; thou slan-
derest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I
kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as
thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine
eyes' (Ps. 1. 16-21). The prophecy of Obadiah throughout, the first
and last chapter of Isaiah to the end, with many more.

" Now it is my last request and soul's desire that all who have
made Moses' choice to suffer affliction with the people of God,

John Nisbet. 4^9

rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and are true
lovers of Zion's righteous cause ; that you set much time apart, and
mourn and afflict your souls, for your original sin, heart plagues, sins
of persons ami families, sins of kings and kingdoms ; and for all
the dreadful apostacies, hateful compliances, and sinful sidings of
ministers and people with the enemies of God and godliness, and
mourn that there is not more faithfulness and zeal for the cause of
God amongst His people : read Ps. 1., Ezra ix., Neh. ix., Jer. ix.,
Lam. iii. and Ezek. ix. to the end.

" My dear friends, forbear your contentions and censuring one of
another ; sympathise with and love one another, for this is His com-
mandment ; keep up your sweet fellowship meetings, and desirable
general meetings, with which my soul has been often refreshed ; and
what is agitated in them, for carrying on of a testimony for truth, and
against defections, let it be managed with Scripture light for direc-
tion, and with zeal temperate with knowledge, and with the spirit of
meekness accompanied with patience and humility. Be always ready
to give a reason of your faith, and be much denied to the world, to
yourselves, and to your natural life ; and when God in His provi-
dence calls you to lay it down for Him, do it cheerfully, and embrace
the cross of our sweet Lord Jesus with open arms : for He will not
send any a warfare on their own charges ; take for your rule and
encouragement these Scriptures, with others, that I leave to your own
search : ' Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ;
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witch-
craft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like : of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle-
ness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance : against such there is
no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another,
envying one another' (Gal. v. 19-26). 'Be not deceived; God is
not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well-doing : for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do

470 A Cloud of Wihiesses.

good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith' (Gal. vi. 7-10). 'Then they that feared the Lord spake often
one to another : and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book
of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the
Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine,
saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels ;
and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth
him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and
the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him
not' (Mai. iii. 16-18). 'Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well
with him ; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the
wicked ! it shall be ill with him : for the reward of his hands shall be
given him. The show of their countenance doth witness against
them ; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe
unto their soul ! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves ' (Isa.
iii. 10, II, 9). ' To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them ' (Isa.
viii. 20). ' But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteous-
ness arise with healing in his wings ; and ye shall go forth, and grow
up as calves of the stall' (Mai. iv. 2). 'And I will wait upon the
Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look
for Him' (Isa. viii. 17). 'Only let your conversation be as it
becometh the Gospel of Christ : that whether I come and see you,
or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one
spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel ;
and in nothing terrified by your adversaries : which is to them an
evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe
on Him, but also to suffer for His sake' (Phil. i. 27-29). 'And He
said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples and
nations, and tongues, and kings' (Rev. x. 11); and Heb. x. 21-39.
' Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but griev-
ous : nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteous-
ness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the
hands which hang down, and the feeble knees ; and make straight
paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way ;
but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord : looking diligently lest
any man fail of the grace of God ; lest any root of bitterness spring-
ing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled' (Heb. xii. 11-15).

Jo In I Nisbet. 471

'And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with
Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name
written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the
voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder : and I
heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps : and they sung
as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts,
and the elders : and no man could learn that song but the hundred
and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
These are they which were not defiled with women ; for they are
virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He
goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits
unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no
guile : for they are without fault before the throne of God ' (Rev.
xiv. 1-5). ' Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of
the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and
exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints' (Jude 3). ' Finally, my brethren, be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand,
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness ; and your feet shod with the prepara-
tion of the gospel of peace ; above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God' (Eph. vi. 10-17).

"And scar not \i.e., be not frightened] at His sweet, lovely and
desirable cross ; for although I have not been able because of my
wounds (that I received at my taking) to lift up or lay down my
head, but as I was helped, yet I was never in better case all my life ;
He has not given me one challenge since I came to prison, for any
thing less or more ; but on the contrary, He has so wonderfully shined
on me with the sense of His redeeming, strengthening, assisting, sup-
porting, through-bearing, pardoning, and reconciling love, grace and
mercy, that my soul doth long to be freed of bodily infirmities and
earthly organs, that so I may flee to His royal palace, even the

47-

A Cloud of IVi/nesses.

heavenly habitation of nxy God, where I am sure of a crown put on
my head, and a palm put in my hand, and a new song put in my
mouth, even the song of Moses and the Lamb, that so I may bless,
praise, magnify and extol Him, for what He hath done to me and
for me.

" Wherefore, I bid farewell to all my dear fellow-sufferers for the
testimony of Jesus, who are wandering in dens and caves. Farewell
my children, study holiness in all your ways, and praise the Lord for
what He hath done for me, and tell all my Christian friends to praise
Him on my account. Farewell sweet Bible, and wanderings and
contendings for truth. Welcome death. Welcome the city of my
God, where I shall see Him, and be enabled to serve Him eternally
with full freedom. Welcome blessed company, the angels and
spirits of just men made perfect. But above all, welcome, welcome,
welcome, our glorious and alone God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
into thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou art worthy. Amen.

James Renwiek.

■pAMES RENWICK was born February 15, 1662,
k'm^si ^^'^^' ^^ ^^""^ parish of Glencairn, Dumfriesshire.

at Moni-

His father, Andrew Renwiek, was a weaver, and in pro-
fession and practice a fervent and faithful Christian, which was
enough, says Alexander Shields in his Life of Renwiek, to nobilitate
the birth of his worthy son, who had what honour was wanting in his
first birth made up in the second. He died as he lived, in the Lord,
February i.st, 1676, the same day twelve years after that his son was
taken to die for the Lord.

His mother, Elizabeth Corsan, was of like piety with her husband.
She had several children, but all died previous to the birth of James.
Their loss filled her \vith grief Her husband tried to comfort her
by declaring that he was well satisfied if his children, die when they

J antes Renwick. 473

might, were heirs of glory. Her prayer, however, was Hannah Uke,
for a child from the Lord that might not only be an heir of glory,
but live to serve Him on earth. When James was born, she received
him as an answer to prayer, and felt herself bound to dedicate him
to the Lord. It soon appeared that the dedication was accepted.
As he learned to speak he learned to pray. His mother lovingly
tells, that, by the time he was but two years of age, he was dis-
cerned to be aiming at prayer even in the cradle and about it.
Along with the work of grace on his soul, his natural faculties
came to early ripeness. He could read the Bible in his sixth
year, a wonderful attainment in that century, when learning was not
made easy as it is now ; and ' his inclination was constant for his
book.'

With some difficulty his parertts kept him at the parish school,
for they were poor, until means were found, through the assistance of
friends who admired the good parts of the boy, of sending him to
Edinburgh. Here he remained until ready for the University, which
he attended until he passed through the classes necessary for a
degree. The piety of his childhood was not cast aside by him when
a student at college. He resisted the temptations that abound in a
city, and at the close of his curriculum such was his tenderness of
conscience, that he would not take the oath of allegiance required
before the degree of Master of Arts could be conferred. But shortly
afterwards, by some means not mentioned by his first biographer, he,
along with other two students, obtained the degree privately, without
taking the oath of allegiance.

After taking his degree he remained in the capital for some time,
prosecuting his studies in theology, and associating with the indulged
ministers, or with those who, unable to comply with the Erastian
demands of the government, lived in retirement in Edinburgh or in
its neighbourhood. Their silence respecting the sins of the time,
and the spectacle of the frequent martyrdoms that took place, set
him a thinking, and led him to inquire after ministers who had not in
any form consented to the supremacy exercised by the crown over
the church. These he could not find, while he at the same time
came to the conclusion that he could no longer attend the ministra-
tions of the indulged. The execution of Donald Cargill, at which he
was present, so moved him that he determined to adopt the martyrs'
testimony, and to cast in his lot with the persecuted. He entered
heartily into the plan formed in the close of 1681, by those who

474 -^ Cloud oj IVitnesses.

sympathised with the cause for which the martyrs suffered, of estab-
Ushing societies throughout the country, to meet at regular intervals
for prayer and conference.

He was present at the publication of the Declaration at Lanark,
January 12, 1682, although he had no share in drawing it up, other-
wise he would have softened some of its expressions. In the same
year, the Societies sent Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun to the United
Provinces, in order to vindicate themselves from the slanders that
had been circulated, to their discredit, among the foreign churches.
One result of this mission was, that steps were taken to send young
men abroad to study for the Christian ministry. In the " Faithful
Contendings," in the account of the fifth General Meeting of the
Societies, held at Edinburgh, October 11, 1682, is recorded what
was done to send out Renwick and three companions. Twenty-five
pounds Scots were voted to each to defray the expenses of the
voyage, as well as what was needful to provide them in clothes and
other necessaries. Renwick sailed in December, and went to Grbn-
ingen, where John a Marck, the author of the " Medulla Theologies "
— a favourite text book with Dr Chalmers — was at that time Pro-
fessor of Divinity and Church History. Here he made such progress
in his studies, that, at the recommendation of Marck himself, he was
ordained by the Classis of Groningen, loth May 1683. He left
Holland early in the following August, and, after a long and stormy
passage, in which the vessel had to put into Rye, in Sussex, where he
narrowly escaped apprehension, he reached Dublin. Here, after a
short stay, he found friends who procured him a passage to Scotland.
But his difificulties were not at an end, for all the harbours were then
strictly watched, and the captain at first would not land him but at a
regular port. At last he was prevailed to put him ashore, tradition
says, somewhere below Gourock.

It was September when he arrived, but he refrained from preach-
ing until the tenth General Meeting — October 3, 1683 — at Darmead,
in Carnbusnethan parish, where he gave an account of his studies;
and handed in his testimony to the truths of God, and to His cause ;
a document drawn up by him before he left Groningen, and contain-
ing some expressions which he afterwards regretted, but valuable as
showing how well acquainted he was, at that early age, with the true
state of the controversy between the persecuted and the Government,
and how earnestly he had espoused the cause for which the martyrs
suffered. At this meeting they gave him a cnll to be their minister,

James Renwick. 475

which he accepted, and entered on his ministry by preaching at the
same place, Sabbath, November 23.

William Wilson, in his collection of sermons by Renwick, has
given notes of the discourses he preached that day. After a short
preface he lectured on Isa. xl. 1-8 : " Comfort ye, comfort ye, my
people, saith your God," etc.; and preached two sermons on Isa.
xxvi. 20 : " Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and
shut thy doors about thee : hide thyself, as it were, for a little
moment, until the indignation be overpast." The notes of the
lecture are meagre : they occupy little more than two octavo pages ;
but those of the sermons are much fuller : they extend to seventeen
pages, and are evidently a faithful report of what he said. They are
remarkable sermons for one so young in years, and more than justify
the recommendation of Marck, that he should be ordained as speedily
as possible.

Those who fancy that the burden of Renwick's preaching was
upon matters of church government, and declamation against the
tyranny of the time, will have their fancies sent to the winds
when they read such a statement of the Gospel message, and such
impassioned pleading that men would come to Christ, as are con-
tained in the following paragraphs, in illustration of the proposition
— "There is both ability and willingness in the Lord to give you
whatsoever your necessity requires."

" There is Ability. What would you have ? Salvation and deliver-
ance ? then He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto
Him. Lift up your eyes, and behold a wonder which you cannot
know, and put forth this question, ' Who is this that cometh from
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? — this that is glorious in
His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength?' And His
answer will be unto you : ' It is I that speak in righteousness, mighty
to save.' Gainsay it who will, the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper
in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied.

" And now, methinks, I hear some of you saying, All this is true ;
we can set to our seals to it. But is He willing ? This is our question.

" Willing He is ifideed. He is not more able than He is willing.
What are all His promises, but declarations of His free willingness ?
What are all His sweet invitations, but to tell you that He is willing,
and ye are welcome. ' Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever
will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely.' Ah ! what
say you to it? Give us your seal to His willingness also. Go, say

47^ A Cloud of Witnesses.

you, why not? you have it. Then come away, there is no more
wanting, save, Come ; we know He is wiUing, and we set to our seal
to His willingness. But is He willing to receive me ? Satisfy me in
this, and then I will be right. Ah cheat ! ye are taking your word
back again now, and lifting off your seal. If ye except not yourself,
He will not except you. His invitation is unto all : " Every one,
come ; he that thirsteth, come ; he that hath no money, come."

*' Now, why will ye be so ill to yourselves, as to debar yourselves ?
for He doth not do it. Ye may as well and as rationally say, that
ye are not a body as to say He debars you. His invitation is to
every one. Now assent to this ; and then, befor-e you except your-
self out of this invitation, you must first say you have not a being,
neither of soul nor body. We say, for you to think that He excepts
you, it is all one as to deny yourself to be one of the children of
Adam.

" Now, O come, come niggard ! what aileth thee ? Come, what
would ye have that is not in Christ ? Oh ! that sweet invitation.
Come ! we cannot tell you what is in it. There is a depth in it that
all the angels in heaven cannot fathom. It is no less than Jesus
Christ, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for
our justification, spreading forth His arms and inviting you. He is
opening up Himself — His all-sufficiency and super-transcendent
excellency — and calling to all poor, needy things, ' Come, here is
enough for you ; give in your desires, and you shall have them satis-
fied to the full.' What, then, have ye to say to the bargain ? Come,
come ; it is a rich commodity, and there is no sticking at the price ;
only receive and have — the easiest of all terms. There is no more
required at your hands.

" But say ye, ha ! sir, ye go without your bounds ; the invitation in
your text is to His people only : ye are, then, all wrong. We are not
so far wrong as ye trow [?>., believe], for the invitation is to His people
to enter into their chambers, and to all who will come and become
His people to enter into their chambers ; and so this is a free market.
We must invite all to come. Ye who are enemies, lay down your
arms against Him, and come. Ye who are upholding His enemies,
and complying with them in their sinful courses and abominations,
by paying them cess and locality, and by furnishing them meat and
drink (which is more than a bidding them God speed, which the
Holy Ghost, by the mouth of John, forbids), quit the putting of the
sword into God's enemies' hands, and come. Ye who have given

James Renwick. 477

bonds to the adversary ; break your covenant with hell and death,
and come ; break your sworn allegiance to the devil, and come and
swear a new allegiance to Jesus Christ, and ye shall never rue it.
Ye who compear before their courts, and pay them fines, whereby ye
both acknowledge them who are robbers of God, and call your duty
your sin, quit these courses, and come. Ye who go to the curates,
leave these perjured, blind guides, and come. Ye who go to the
indulged, leave these traitors to God. Ye who go to the backslidden,
silent ministers, leave these betrayers of the cause,. and deserters of
the cross of Christ, and come ; leave all these, and follow Him ;
He is a true guide, and will be so to you. Ye who any ways seek
or take the enemy's protection, leave it, and come ; come to Him,
and ye shall find chambers indeed both for safety and delight. All
ye that are strangers to Him, come ; ye that are in nature, come ;
and ye that know Him, come. We must preach this word ' Come '
unto you so long as ye are here, until ye be transplanted out of this
spiritual warfare into celestial triumph. Oh ! sirs, come, come, ask
what ye will, and He shall give it. Oh ! come, come ! "

The reader of these paragraphs will not wonder that Renwick at
once became a favourite preacher among the persecuted Covenanters,
and that there were demands for his services from many quarters.
In a few months, in the first year of his ministry, he is said to have
baptized no less than six hundred children. His fame as a preacher
soon came to the ears of the enemies of liberty then in power, and
August 30th, 1684, the form of summoning him before the Privy
Council was gone through at the Cross of Edinburgh and the Pier of
Leith ; and, in the following month, letters of intercommuning were
issued against him, in which he is called, after the fashion in which
the Government of the time were wont to speak of the salt of the
earth, a seditious vagabond and pretended preacher, is accused of
debaucliing some of our unwary subjects into the same wicked,
unnatural, and seditious principles with himself, and closing with the
following sentences, as notable for their virulence as for their
grammar :

" We command and charge all and sundry our lieges and subjects
that they nor none of them presume, nor take upon hand to reset,
supply or intercommune with the said Mr James Renwick, rebel
foresaid ; nor furnish him with meat, drink, house, harbour, victual
nor no other thing useful or comfortable to him ; or to have intelli-
gence with him by word writ or message or any other manner of

1 7 8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

way whatsomever under pain of being esteemed art and part with
him in the crimes foresaid, and pursued therefore with all rigour to
tlie terror of others. And we hereby require all our Sheriffs to
apprehend and commit to prison, the person of the said Mr James
Renwick wherever they can find or apprehend him."

Renwick and the Societies answered the Letters of Intercommun-
ing by the Apologetic Declaration. The Government rejoined by a
proclamation, characterised by the same wild fury of expression as
the Letters of Intercommuning, in which the Societies are styled
insolent and desperate rebels, and the Declaration execrable and
treasonable. At the same time, sterner and more relentless measures
than ever were taken to suppress the meetings of the Societies, and
to seize the persons of their members. The Lords of the Priv}'
Council asked the opinion of the Court of Session whetlier an own-
ing of the Apologetic Declaration was an act of treason, and received
as answer that it was. Fortified by this answer, it was resolved that
all who owned, or would not disown, the Apologetic Declaration,
whether they had arms or not, should be immediately put to death,
wherever persons holding the commission of the Council might find
them ; provided two witnesses were present. The result of these
steps was that of all the twenty-eight years of persecution, 1685 was
the most terrible and most marked by the cruelty of the persecutor.
Renwick himself had many a hairbreadth escape, yet none of his
meetings was ever surprised by the emissaries of Government ; and
persecution had no other effect upon him than to strengthen his con-
viction that the work he was engaged in was the Lord's. And by the
grace and goodness of God, says his biographer and companion in
tribulation, Alexander Shields, he was still more animated and en-
larged in spirit, and enabled in body to increase his diligence in
preaching, baptising, and examining every week once at least ; which
had such success, that a great and effectual door was opened to the
bringing in of many to Christ, out of ignorance and darkness of
nature, and bringing back many from the times' sins and compliances,
and calling out such multitudes, flocking after the persecuted Gospel
ordinances in the open fields, that it was impossible for him to
answer all the calls he received from all parts to preach to them.

At the nineteenth general meeting of the Societies, held May 28,
1685, at Blackgannoch, on the Spango Water, in the parish of Kirk-
connel, the second Sanquhar Declaration was agreed upon.

Immediately after the meeting, about two hundred and twenty

y antes Re^iwick. 479

men drew up in arms, and marched to Sanquhar, five miles to the
south of Blackgannoch, where, after a psahn and prayer by Ren wick,
the Declaration was published, and a copy left on the Cross. The
Declaration is manifestly from the pen of Renwick, and is a well
expressed vindication of the Societies from the charge of encourage-
ing assassination brought against them by their enemies, as well as
a protestation against the illegality of the Duke of York, a professed
Papist, ascending the throne as James II. Defiant as was this
Declaration, the Government found it most prudent to take no notice
of it. They evidently felt that the less said about the religion of the
new king the better.

But the misrepresentations of Renwick and the Societies by
their enemies did not cease. The failure of the Earl of Argyle's
enterprise, which Renwick had refused to join until its aims were
stated more in harmony with the principles he had been accustomed
to maintain, increased the numbers of those wlio misrepresented
him, but his usual answer, when told of their misrepresentations was,
" I will not say so of them," while he charged his friends not to con-
tend with such weapons, and to have a care not to render railing for
raihng. Slanders, too, rose up among the members of the Societies,
but he pursued his course undeterred by all that might be said against
him.

In December 1686, a reward of ;j^ioo sterling was offered to any
one who should bring in James Renwick dead or alive, but it had no
effect in leading any of his followers to betray him.

In 1687, three successive proclamations were issued, allowing
Presbyterians to meet in their private houses for worship and preach-
ing, but field meetings were strictly forbidden. The object of
Government in these proclamations was to prepare the way for the
legal toleration of Popery. Many, however, took advantage of these
proclamations, and some ministers went so far as, in rather a fulsome
manner, to thank the Government for the fettered permission afforded
them to preach. Renwick drew up an answer to the proclamations,
came into Edinburgh, January 1688, and gave a copy of it to Mr
Hugh Kennedy, then indulged minister in Edinburgh, to be com-
municated to the rest of his brethren. From Edinburgh he went to
Fife, where he preached in several places, and for the last time at
Borrowstounness on January 29. Notes of a sermon preached on
January 24, from Ps. xlv. 10 : " Hearken, O daughter, and consider,
and incline thine eye ; forget also thine own people and thy father's

480 A Cloud of I'Viinesses.

house," of a second, preached January 27 from Luke xii. 32 : " Fear
not, Httle flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom,' and of his last sermon, from Isaiah liii. i : " Who hath
believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed," are
in Wilson's collection. They are obviously not so well reported as
the notes of his first sermon, but they are full enough to show the
expository, the evangelical, and earnest character of his preaching up
to his last days. If there be any change in these later sermons from
the first, it is to the better, for they present more exhaustively the
lessons taught in the text.

He returned to Edinburgh, January 31. He lodged in the Castle
Hill, at the head of the Bow, in the house of a friend, John Lookup,
near where Free St John's Church now stands. The house was that
of a trader in what were called " uncustomed goods from England,"
a profession in that age, from tlie character of the men then in power,
by no means looked upon with disfavour by patriotic Scotsmen. An
excise officer on the watch for contraband goods heard family prayer
in the house, and suspected the voice was that of Renwick. He had
the house surrounded next morning about daybreak. An entrance
was soon made, when the excise officer exclaimed, " My life for it,
this is Mr Renwick," and declared that all within must go to the
guardhouse, to show what trade they were of Renwick rejoined, "I
shall soon show you what is my trade."

The excise officer now went out to the street and called for assist-
ance to carry the dog Renwick to the guardhouse. Meanwhile
Renwick, with two friends in the house, tried to escape by another
door, but it was found watched by the excise officers, and when one
of the two sought to break through he was driven back. At this
Renwick fired a pistol, which at once opened a way for himself and
friends, but as they went out he received a blow from a staff that
partly stunned him, and made him fall once or twice as he ran down
the Castle Wynd towards the head of the Cowgate, where he lost his hat.
By his falls the pursuers gained on him, and tlie loss of his hat marked
him out, so that he was soon caught by a person on the street, but
his two friends made their escaj^e. He was taken to the giiardhouse,
and })ut in irons by the order of a committee of Council. He was
examined on February 3. He himself has given an account of his
examination in a letter contained in the Collection of his Letters,
^ Letter Ix.) When he was searched, his pocket-book was taken from
him, but it contained nothint^ but a few names in fiill, as many more

James Renwick. 481

in the first letter only, and notes of two sermons which he had
preached January 18, at the Braid Craigs, two miles south from
Edinburgh, at a place still pointed out. These names, as their
owners were out of danger, he readily explained.

On February 3, he received his indictment, which will be found in
full in Wodrow. He was tried Wednesday, February 8, and was
sentenced to be executed the following Friday. The Lord Justice
General, Earl of Linlithgow, asked him if he desired longer time.
He replied it was all one to him ; if it was protracted it was welcome,
if shortened it was welcome ; his Master's time was the best time.
Without his knowledge, however, the day of execution was delayed
for another week.

During this week his friends were forbidden to see him, and every
effort was made by the government to get him to petition for a
reprieve. Writing materials were taken from him, but he managed
to write the testimony and letter that follow. On the morning of
execution he wrote a short letter to his dear friend Sir Robert
Hamilton, full of faith and confidence. He says, " I go to your God
and my God. Death to me is as a bed to the weary. Now, be not
anxious, the Lord will maintain His cause and own His people ; He
will show His glory yet in Scotland ; farewell." The compilers of the
" Cloud " have given a short account of his last words, to which we
have added Alexander Shields' narrative of what he said just before
he was executed. He was buried in the Greyfriars Churchyard. A
monument was erected to his memory in 1828, at Moniaive, near the
farmhouse where tradition says he was born.

In 1687, James Renwick, in conjunction with Alexander Shields,
drew up the only work ever published by him : " An Infonnatory
Vindication of a Poor, Wasted, Misrepresented Remnant of the
Suftering, Anti-popish, Anti-prelatic, Anti-erastian, Anti-sectarian,
true Presbyterian Church of Christ in Scotland \ United together in
a General Correspondence ; By way of Reply to various Accusations
in Letters, Informations, and Conferences given forth against them."
The first eighteen, or perhaps the first thirty, of its 108 pages bear
traces of Alexander Shields, but the rest is evidently from Ren-
wick himself It is much to be regretted that the " Informatorj^
Vindication " should be so little known, as its ability, its catholicity,
and its terseness and clearness of statement make it one of the most
readable documents of that age, and altogether worthy of its title.
No one who reads it dispassionately, but will feel that a Government

482 A Cloud of Witnesses.

that could put to death the author of such a document, for no other
crime than the avowal of its opinions, was deservedly overthrown in
the Revolution of 1688.

In 1724 John M'Main, M.A., schoolmaster at Liberton's Wynd,
published, in an i8mo volume of 248 pages, Alexander Shields' Life
of Renwick. Shields finished it in September 1688, but it had lain
in manuscript till it came into M'Main's hand. M'Main has added
to it a preface of forty pages, in v/hich he takes exception to Wod-
row's history for doing scant justice to the sufferers whose testimonies
are given in the " Cloud." Shields' Life contains more of charac-
teristic declamation against the tyranny of the time than narrative.
Nevertheless, it is one that the reader will be grateful for, and no
doubt wish that we possessed similar lives of more than one of the
sufferers of that age.

In 1748 William Wilson published two i8mo volumes, with the
title, " A choice Collection of very valuable Prefaces, Lectures, and
Sermons, preached upon the mountains and muirs of Scotland in the
hottest time of the late persecution, by that faithful minister and
martyr of Jesus Christ, the Reverend Mr James Renwick." The
collection has been several times reprinted in one octavo volume.
Although printed from notes, taken by hearers, that are often obviously
imperfect, the collection is yet one of interest and value.

In 1764 the Rev. John M'Millan, for many years minister of the
Reformed Presbyterian Congregation that met at Sandhills, near
Glasgow, published a i2mo volume, entitled "A Collection of
Letters, consisting of ninety-three, sixty-one of which were wrote by
the Rev. Mr James Renwick." The first letter is dated July 1682,
and the last is that written to Sir Robert Hamilton on the morning of
his execution. Far more than his sermons, these letters reveal the
character of Renwick, and show him to have been what Alexander
Shields calls him, '" a ripe Christian." Mr M'Millan printed them
from the manuscript, but not very accurately, and with the omission
of the postscripts, which are at least as valuable as the rest of the
letters. The original autographs of Renwick's last speech and testi-
mony, and of his letter to his Christian Friends, are in the library of
the Free College, Edinburgh. Through the kindness of the acting
librarian, the Rev. John Laing, we have been permitted to examine
them. I'he examination has shown a great many obvious mis-
prints, or mistakes in the transcription, in all previous editions of
the " Cloud." These we have corrected, and given an exact copy

James Renwick. 483

of what Renwick wrote. The handwriting shows marks of haste or
of being under some restraint, but has much of the legibiHty, and
even beauty, so characteristic of his earlier letters, at least twenty of
which we have seen in his own autograph. — Ed.]

HE LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY of the Rev-
erend Mr James Renwick, Minister of the Gospel, who
suffered in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, February 17,
1688. Emitted from his own hand, the day before his
suftering.

" My Dear Friends in Christ, — It hath pleased
the Lord to deliver me up into the hands of men \ and
I think lit to send you this salutation, which I expect will be the last.
When I pose \i.e., question] my heart upon it, before God, I dare not
desire to have escaped this lot ; for no less could have been for His
glory and vindication of His cause on my behalf And as I am
free before Him of the profanity, which some, either naughty, wicked,
or strangers to me, have reported that I have been sometimes guilty
of, so He hath kept me, from the womb, free of the ordinary pollu-
tions of children ; as these that have been acquainted with me through
the tract of my life do know. And now my blood shall either more
silence reproachers, or more ripen them for judgment. But I hope it
shall make some more sparing to speak of those who shall come after
me ; and so I am the more willing to pay this cost, both for their
instruction, and my succeeders' ease.

" Since I came to prison, the Lord hath been wonderfully kind ;
He hath made His word to give me light, life, joy, courage and
strength ; yea, it hath dropped with sweet smelling myrrh unto me ;
particularly these Psalms and promises : ' For now I know that
thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only
son' (Gen. xxii. 12). 'Neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the Lord
is your strength' (Neh. viii. 10). 'There the wicked cease from
troubling ; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest
together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor' (Job. iii. 17, 18).
' But He knoweth the way that I take : when He hath tried me, I

484 A CloiLci of Witnesses.

shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held His steps, his way have
I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the com-
mandment of His lips ; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more
than my necessary food. But He is in one mind, and who can turn
Him ? and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth. For He
performeth the thing that is appointed for me : and many such things
are with Him' (Job xxiii. 10-14). 'The word of the Lord tried
Him'(Ps. cv. 19). 'Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise,
and speak unto them all that I command thee : be not dismayed at
their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have
made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen
walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the
princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of
the land. And they shall fight against thee ; but they shall not pre-
vail against thee ; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver
thee' (Jer. i. 17-19). 'A glorious high throne from the beginning
is the place of our sanctuary. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that
forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall
be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the
fountain of living waters. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed ;
save me, and I shall be saved' (Jer. xvii. 12-14). ' He that toucheth
you toucheth the apple of His eye' (Zech. ii. 8). 'But before all these,
they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up
to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and
rulers for My name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony '
(Luke xxi. 12, 13), and xix. of St John's Gospel. ' Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith ; who for the joy that was set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and
faint in your minds' (Heb. xii. 2, 3). 'Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation : for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown
of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him ' (James
i. 12). 'Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that He may exalt you in due time : casting all your care upon
Him ; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant ; because your
adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour' (i. Pet. v. 6-8). ' I know thy works : behold, I have
set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it : for thou hast
a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my

James Renwick. 485

name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which
say they are Jews, and a/e not, but do lie ; behold, I will make them
to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved
thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will
keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come
quickly : hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out : and I \vill write upon him the name of
my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem,
which Cometh down out of heaven from my God : and I will write upon
him my new name' (Rev. iii. 8-12). Revelation, chapters xix., xx.,
xxi., and xxii., and several other Scriptures. O what can I say to
the Lord's praise ! It was but little that I knew of Him before I
came to prison ; I have found sensibly much of His divine strength,
much of the joy of His Spirit, and much assurance from His word
and Spirit concerning my salvation.

" My sufferings are stated upon the matters of my doctrine, for
there was found with me the sum of my two last sermons at Braid's
Craigs, which I wrote after I did preach them : the former whereof
was upon Ps. xlvi. 10 : * Be still and know that I am God ; I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.' And in
the latter upon Heb. x. 38 : ' Now the just shall live by faith : but if
any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.' And I
was examined upon the application made therein unto the sins of
the time ; all which I owned once and again, as it is to be seen in
my indictment ; and being tried, and an assize set, I adhered to my
former confessions explicitly ; so my sentence of death was drawn
forth upon these three heads :

" I. Because I could not own James VII. to be my lawful
sovereign.

"2. Because I taught the unlawfulness of paying the cess,
expressly exacted for suppressing the faithful and free preaching of
the Gospel.

" 3. Because I taught it was people's duty to carry arms at the
preaching of the Gospel, now that it is persecuted, for defending of
themselves, and resisting unjust violence.

" I think such a testimony is worthy many lives, and I praise
the Lord, for His enabling me to be plain and positive in all
my confessions ; for therein I found peace, joy, strength, boldness.

4S6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

I have met with many assaults in prison, some from some of the
Indulged party, and some from some of the Prelatic ; but by the
strength of God I was enabled to stand, that they could neither bow
me nor break me. I was also assaulted by some of the Popish party.
I suppose they were of their ecclesiastic creatures ; but they found
none of their own stuff in me ; I told them, after sundry debatings,
that I had lived, and should die, an enemy to their way. However,
some that knew me not, reproached me with Jesuitism. But I was
much pressed by sundry to seek a reprieve, and my answer was always,
that I adhered to my former confession, and if they pleased to let
their appointed time of my death stand, let it stand ; and if they
pleased to protract it, let them protract it; for I was ready and willing
both to live and die. Howbeit there came a reprieve for eight days,
but I had no hand in it.

" They still urged, Would I but say that I desired time, for con-
ference with some persons anent my principles ? I answered, that
my time was in the Lord's hand, and I was in no hesitation or
doubt about my principles myself: I would not be so rude as
to decline converse with . any, so far as it might not be incon-
venient for me in my present circumstances, but I would seek it
with none.

" I have no more to say upon this head, but my heart doth not
smite me for anything in the matters of my God, since I came to
prison. And I can further say to His praise, with some conscious-
ness of integrity, that I have walked in His way, and kept His
charge, though with much weakness, and many infirmities, whereof
you have been witnesses.

" Now, my dear friends in precious Christ, I think I need not
tell you that, as I have lived, so I die, in the same persuasion with
the true reformed and covenanted Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
I adhere to the testimony of the day, as it is held forth in our
Informatory Vindication, and in the testimony against the present
toleration ; and that I own, and seal with my blood, all the precious
truths, even the controverted truths, that I have taught. So I would
exhort every one of you to make sure your personal reconciliation
with God in Christ, for I fear many of you have that yet to do ;
and when you come where I am, to look pale death in the face, ye
will not be a little shaken and terrified if ye have not laid hold on
eternal life. I would exhort you to much diligence in the use of
means ; to be careful in keeping your societies ; to be frequent and

yames Renwick. 487

fervent in secret prayer; to read much the written Word of God, and
to examine yourselves by it.

" Do not weary to maintain, in your places and stations, the pre-
sent testimony; for when Christ goeth forth to defeat antichrist, with
that name written on His vesture and on His thigh, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, He will make it glorious in
the earth. And if you can but transmit it to posterity, ye may
count it a great generation work. But beware of the ministers that
have accepted this toleration, and all others that bend that way ; and
follow them not, for the sun hath gone down on them. Do not fear
that the Lord will cast off Scotland ; for He will certainly return,
and show Himself glorious in our land. But watch and pray, for
He is bringing on a sad overthrowing stroke, which shall make
many say that they have easily got through that have got a scaffold
for Christ ; and do not regard the sufferings of this present world,
for they are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be
revealed.

" I may say, to His praise, that I have found His cross sweet and
lovely unto me ; for I have had many joyful hours, and not a fearful
thought since I came to prison. He hath strengthened me to out-
brave man and outface death ; and I am now longing for the joyful
hour of my dissolution ; and there is nothing in the world I am sorry
to leave but you ; but I go unto better company, and so I must take
my leave of you all.

" Farewell beloved sufferers, and followers of the Lamb. Fare-
well Christian intimates. Farewell Christian and comfortable mother
and sisters. Farewell sweet societies. Farewell desirable general
meetings. Farewell night wanderings, cold and weariness for Christ.
Farewell sweet Bible, and preaching of the Gospel. Farewell sun,
moon, and stars, and all sublunary things. Farewell conflicts with
a body of death. Welcome scaffold for precious Christ. Welcome
heavenly Jerusalem. Welcome innumerable compan)' of angels.
Welcome General Assembly and Church of the first-born. Welcome,
crown of glory, white robes, and song of Moses and the Lamb.
And, above all, welcome, O thou blessed Trinity and One God !
O Eternal One, I commit my soul into Thy eternal rest !
" Sic siibscribitur,

"JAMES RENWICK.

"February 13, 1688."

488 A Cloud of Wihiesses.

LliTTER to Ills Christian Friends, WTitten in the time
of his reprieval.

" My Dear Friends in Christ, — T see then what
hath been the language of my reprieve ; it hath been,
that 1 might be further tempted and tried ; and I praise
the Lord He hath assisted me to give further proof of
steadfastness. I have been often assaulted by some
Popish priests ; but the last time that they came, 1 told them that
I would debate no more with such as they were, and that I have
lived and would die a Presbyterian Protestant, and testified against
the idolatries, heresies, superstitions, and errors of their antichristian
way.

'* But yesterday, I was cast into a deep exercise, and made to
dwell under the impression of the dreadfulness of everything that
might grieve the Spirit of God, I found sin to be more bitter than
death, and one hour's hiding of God's face more insupportable. And
then at night I was called before a party of the Council, and the
Chancellor produced the Informatory Vindication, and asked if I knew
it. I answered, 'I did know it.' And being interrogated, I confessed
that I had a great hand writing of it. They pressed me to tell my
assistants. I told them they were those they were persecuting ;
but would satisfy them no further. They also urged me, upon pain
of torture, to tell where were our societies, who kept our general cor-
respondences, and where they were kept. I answered, though they
should torture me, which was contrary to all law after sentence of
death, I would give them no further notice tlian the book gave. T
was, moreover, threatened to tell of my haunts and quarters, but I
refused to make known any such thing to them ; so I was returned
to prison again. Such an exercise as I had was very needful for
such a trial ; and I would rather have endured what they could do
unto me than ha\e dishonoured Christ, offended you, and brought
you into trouble.

" But I hope, within less than three days, to be without the reach
of all tentation. Now I have no more to say. Farewell again in
our blessed Lord Jesus. " JAMES RENWICK.

"February 15, 1688."

Ja^nes Renwick.

4b9

SHORT ACCOUNT of his LAST WORDS upon
the Scaftbld.

^vv;jij^^. Before he went out of the Tolbooth, he was at

^^?^<^ dinner with his mother, sisters, and some Cliristian
friends, when the drum beat the first warning to his
execution ; which so soon as he heard, he leapt up in
a ravishment of heavenly joy, saying, " Let us be glad
and rejoice, for the marriage of the Lamb is come ; " and I can say,
in some measure, " The bride, the Lamb's wife, hath made herself
ready." ■ And, till dinner was over, he enlarged upon the parallel of a
marriage, and invited all of them to come to the wedding, meaning
his execution. When he was come to the scaffold, the drums being
beat all the while, none of the distant spectators could hear anything
that he said ; only some very few, that were close by him, did hear
it ; whereof one has collected the following account. He delivered
himself to this effect :

" Spectators, or (if there be any of you) auditors, — I must tell
you I am come here this day to lay down my life for adhering to the
truths of Christ, for which I am neither afraid nor ashamed to suffer ;
nay, I bless the Lord that ever He counted me worthy, or enabled
me to suffer anything for Him ; and I desire to praise His grace
that He hath not only kept me free from the gross pollutions of
the time, but also from many ordinary pollutions of children ; and
such as I have been stained with. He hath washen me from them
in His own blood. I am this day to lay down my life for these
three things :

" I. For disowning the usurpations and tyranny of James Duke
of York.

" 2. For preaching that it was unlawful to pay the cess expressly
exacted for bearing down the Gospel.

" 3. For preaching that it was lawful for people to carry arms for
defending themselves in their meetings for receiving the persecuted
Gospel ordinances.

" I think a testimony for these is worth many lives, and if I had
ten hundred [Wodrow's Mauuscript has "ten thousand." — Ed. J I
would think it little enough to lay them all down for the same.

490 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" Dear friends, spectators, and (if any of you be) auditors, — I
must tell you that I die a Presbyterian Protestant.

" I own tlie Word of God as the rule of Faith and manners ; I own
the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving
Knowledge, Directory for Worship, etc. ; Covenants, National and
Solemn League ; Acts of General Assemblies, — and all the faithful
contendings that have been for the work of reformation.

" I leave my testimony approving the preaching of the Gospel in
the fields, and the defending the same by arms.

" I adjoin my testimony to all that hath been sealed by blood,
shed either on scaffolds, fields, or seas, for the cause of Christ.

" I leave my testimony against Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, etc. ;
against all profanity, and everything contrary to sound doctrine ;
particularly against all usurpations made upon Christ's right, who is
the PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, who alone
must bear the glory of ruling His own kingdom, the Church ; and, in
particular, against the absolute power usurped by this usurper, that
belongs to no mortal, but is the incommunicable prerogative of
JEHOVAH, and against this toleration flowing from that absolute
power."

Upon this, he was bid have done. He answered, " 1 have near
done." Then he said :

" Ye that are the people of God, do not weary in maintaining the
testimony of the day, in your stations and places ; and whatever ye
do, make sure an interest in Christ, for there is a storm coming that
shall try your foundation. Scotland must be rid of Scotland before
the delivery come. And you that are strangers to God, break off"
your sins by repentance, else I will be a witness against you in the
day of the Lord."

Here they caused him desist. Upon the scaffold he sung a part
of the 103d Psalm, from the beginning, and read the 19th chapter of
the Revelation.

[In prayer he said, " Lord, I die in the faith that Thou wilt not
leave Scotland, but that Thou wilt make the blood of Thy witnesses
the seed of Thy Church, and return again, and be glorious in our
land. And now. Lord, I am ready — ' the bride, the Lamb's wife,
hath made herself ready.' "

The napkin then being tied about his face, he said to his friend
attending him — " Farewell. Be diligent in duty. Make your peace
with God, through Christ. There is a great trial coming. As to the

yames Renwick. 491

remnant I leave, I have committed them to God. Tell them from
me not to weary, nor be discouraged in maintaining the testimony.
Let them not quit nor forego one of these despised truths. Keep
your ground, and the Lord will provide you teachers and ministers,
and when He comes, He will make these despised truths glori'ous
upon the earth.

Then he was turned over the ladder, with these words in his
mouth : " Lord, into Thy hands I commit my spirit, for Thou hast
redeemed me, Lord God of truth." — From Alex. Shields' " Life of
Renwick." — Ed.]

And having thus finished his course, served his generation, and
witnessed a good confession for his Lord and Master, before many
witnesses, by the will of God, he yielded up his spirit into the hands
of God who gave it.

He was the last that sealed the testimony of this sutfering period
in a public way upon a scaffold.

AN APPENDIX

CONTAINING

SOME PARTICULARS RELATING TO THE FOREGOING

TESTIMONIES, AND OTHER SUFFERINGS

OF THAT TIME.

Mr Richard Cameron.

495

HOUSE IN FALKLAND
{IVhere Richard Cameron was born).

Mr Richard Cameron.

HERE is a short life of Richard Cameron by Patrick Walker.
It abounds in the same curious matter as his other lives.
Its substance is given by John Howie in the " Scots
Worthies." The house in Falkland where Richard Cameron was
born is still pointed out. Some years ago the title-deeds were
examined, and it was found that Cameron's father had borrowed
money on the house in order to send him to college.

M'Millan's collection of Letters contains two letters from
Richard Cameron to Alexander Gordon of Earlstoun, and one to Lady
Earlstoun. They are short, but they tell of the writer's piety, and of
his warm affection for his friends.

John Howie's Collection of Lectures and Sermons contains three
prefaces, two lectures, and six sermons by Richard Cameron. Tv,'o
of the sermons are on John v. 40, " Ye will not come unto me that
ye might have life." When preaching on this text, Patrick Walker
says, " he fell in such a rap of calm weeping, and the greater part of
that multitude that there was, scarce a dry cheek to be seen among
them, which obliged him to halt and pray." A manuscript copy of

496 A Cloud of Witnesses.

this sermon, transcribed by William Wilson in 1720, from notes taken
by a hearer, is still extant. It is evidently more correct than Howie's
transcription, who seems occasionally to have altered a Saxon word
into its Latinized form, and not by any means added to the point
and vigour of the sermon by the change. A few sentences from Wil-
son's manuscript will show how impassioned a preacher Richard
Cameron must have been :

" There are many here that are at this — ' Indeed, I find it very
difficult to close with Christ.' Before we speak to you we will pray
a word.

" Now for you that are saying this, ' It is true it is not easy to
bring folks to Christ ; I have had a profession these many years, but
I fear I have not come to Christ.' Our Lord is here this day, saying,
' Will ye take me.' Ye that have had a lie in your right hand, what
say ye to it ? ay or no ? Ye that have been plagued with deadness,
hardness, and unbeHef, what say ye to it? Will ye take Him? He is
saying [to you], will ye take me. . . . O what fault have ye to Him ?
There are many saying, ' an [/>., if] I take Him, I will get a cross
with Him.' That is true. But ye get a sweet cross. And thus we
offer Him to you in the parish of Douglas, Affleck [/.<?., Auchinleck],
and all about. Take Him, for we shall take instruments before these
hills and mountains that we offer Him to you this day. Will ye take
Him, ye that are free of the cess : will ye take Him ? Ye that are free
of the Bond that is going through ; will ye take Him ? Ye that are
free of the Indulgence, ye poor ignorant things ; will ye not take Him
this day ? Ye shall be welcome now when the old wily professors are
taking offence at His way and cross. O will ye cast up your eyes to
Him!

" Angels are wondering at this ofifer. They are standing looking
on with admiration at their Lord and your Lord that is making such
an offer here this day.

" O what wonder is this. They, gone to hell these hundreds of
years, are crying and howling, ' O and we had such an offer as you
parish of Affleck [/>., Auchinleck] has this day.' Come, come to
Him, and never a word shall be of your sins — sin shall be buried!

"But will ye not come to Him? If ye will not, it shall be more
tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for you. But what will ye
say to me? What shall I say to Him that sent me this day. What !
shall I say, there were some yonder that were content to give Him
their hand, heart, house and land ? Now, if ye can make a better

Mr Richard Cameron.

497

bargain with any otlier, do it. Look to these hill-tops there, over the
shawhead. Take them in your view — they are all witnesses. Look to
them, they shall all be witnesses when you are dying, and we take
you all witnesses one against another. O how will it aggravate your
sorrow and pain when they come in your mind and conscience ; ' O
sirs, I heard you invited and obtested to take Christ, and that on the
last of May, and we are witnesses.' There is some tenderness among
you. That is well-faured \i.e.^ well favoured], I confess, but that is
not all. The angels will go up to the throne and say, ' We saw and
bear witness to the new bargain the day [/>., to-day] ; we saw some
in the parish of Affleck [/>., Auchinleck], Douglas, and Crawford-
john close with the offers of our Master the day in the Gospel.' O
they will be welcome news to heaven !

" And there are some in hell ; they will be saying, ' ^Voes me !
Some are going away yonder the day \i.e., to-day], and will never
come here.' ' O,' says the devil, ' we shall set the troopers upon
them, we shall set the dragoons upon them ; yon minister shall be
hanged, and the people hauled to prison, and sent to the sea, and
they shall be drowned or banished.' But we defy him and them
both."— Ed.]

SHORT RELATION concerning the Reverend Mr
Richard Cameron, minister of the Gospel, who was
killed in a rencounter \i.e., encounter] at Airsmoss,
July 2 2, 1680,

Because in the foregoing speeches there is frequent
mention made of the Reverend Mr Richard Cameron,
and testimony given to the faithfulness of his ministry.
It will not be perhaps ungrateful to some to insert the following rela-
tion of some remarkable things anent his call to the ministry, which
was rehearsed by himself a little before his death ; where he told some
Christian friends, that after his having gone through the ordinary
course of university learning, he was a schoolmaster and a precentor
to a curate at Falkland, for some time, and at some occasions used
to attend the sermons of the indulged ministers, as he had oppor-
tunitv.

49^ A Cloud of Witnesses.

At length it pleased the Lord to incline him to go out to the
field-meetings, which when the curates understood, they set upon him
partly by flatteries, partly by menacing threats, and at length by more
direct persecution, to cause him forbear attending these meetings;
but such was the powerful and wonderful working of the Lord by His
Spirit upon him, that he entirely deserted these Prelatic curates, hav-
ing got a lively discovery of the sin and hazard of that abominable
Prelacy. And no sooner was he enlightened anent the evil of Pre-
lacy, but beginning more narrowly to search into the state of things,
that he might know what was his proper and necessary duty, the
Lord was pleased to discover to him the sinfulness of the Indulgence,
as flowing from the ecclesiastical supremacy usurped by the king ;
and being zealously affected for the honour of Christ, wronged by that
Erastian acknowledgment of the magistrate's usurped power over the
Church, he longed for an opportunity to give a testimony against it.

And accordingly, being in the family of Sir William Scot of Harden,
who attended the indulged meetings, he took opportunity (notwith-
standing many strong temptations from Satan to the contrary) to wit-
ness in his station against the Indulgence ; particularly one Sabbath,
after he was called to attend the lady to church, he returned from the
entry, refusing to go that day, and spent the day in his chamber,
where he met with much of the Lord's presence (as he testified), and
very evident discoveries of the true nature of these temptations and
suggestions of Satan, which had like to have prevailed with him before.
And upon the Monday, giving a reason to the said Sir William Scot
and his lady, why he went not to church with them, he took occasion
to be plain and express in testifying against the sinfulness of the
Indulgence, in its complex nature, and original rise and spring from
whence it flowed ; and thereupon leaving that service, being no
further acceptable to them, because of his faithfulness, he came to
the south, and having met with the Reverend Mr John Welch, he
stayed in his company a considerable time ; who, finding him a man
qualified for the ministry, pressed upon him to accept a license to
preach, which he refused for some time, chiefly upon this reason,
that he, having such clear discoveries of the sinfulness of the Indul-
gence, could not but testify against it explicitly, so soon as he should
have opportunity to preach in public ; and, considering that none of
the outed ministers, who had been of standing and experience in the
ministry, had yet expressly declared the sinfulness thereof in public,
he was afraid that his being singular in it, considering his youth, and

Mr Richard Cameron. 499

his being but new entered upon the work of the ministry, might per-
haps make his doctrine the less useful and weighty to the people.

But the force of his objection being removed by Mr Welch's serious
solicitations, he was prevailed with to accept a license from some of
the outed ministers, who had not complied with the Indulgence, and
were as yet preaching the Gospel in the fields. And having preached
occasionally with Mr Welch and others, in several i)laces of the
western shires, and finding the people warmed and affected with his
doctrine, by the good hand of God blessing the word, he adventured
sometimes, as the Lord assisted him, to be express and clear in
declaring the sinfulness of the Indulgence, and of joining with the
acceptors thereof; whereupon the ministers, who had licensed him
to preach, conceiving it prudence not to be so explicit anent that
step of compliance, began to persecute him with censure for his free-
dom in preaching against it, and called three several meetings upon
that account, one at Dunscore in Nithsdale, another at Dindeugh in
Galloway, and a third at Edinburgh.

After his return from Holland, where he received ordination to
the exercise of the ministry, he went to some of those outed ministers,
inviting and pressing them much to come out and preach in the fields,
as they had done before the overthrow at Bothwell ; but the persecu-
tion being then very hot against all such as had not accepted the
Indulgence and Indemnity, they refused to adventure upon that
hazard. Wherefore, notwithstanding such sad discouragements from
the professed friends, and violent persecution by the declared enemies
of the Reformation, he adventured upon all hazard to preach
publicly in the fields, in order to discharge the dispensation of the
Gospel, which the Lord had entrusted him with. And he continued
so doing, till he sealed that cause and testimony with his blood ;
being, after some valiant resistance in his own defence, killed by a
party of soldiers under the command of [Bruce of] Earlshall, and his
head and hand, cut off" by one Robert Murray, were brought and
laid before the Council, who ordered them to be placed upon the
Netherbow Port of Edinburgh.

)00 A Cloud of Witnesses.

The Bond of Mutual Defence.

IRE was found upon him when he was killed, sub-
scribed by him, his brother Michael Cameron?
Archibald Stewart, John Potter, and about thirty
^-^\S^^"^ <^^hers, the following Bond of Mutual Defence, which
(v^^^Aj^ justly deserveth to be insert here in its proper room, it
being most agreeable to the true state of the testimony
which these renowned martyrs sealed with their blood.
[This bond appeared first in the third edition. — Ed.]
" We, under subscribers, bind and oblige ourselves to be faithful
to God, and true to one another, and to all others who shall join with
us, in adhering to Rutherglen Testimony, and disclaiming the Hamil-
ton Declaration, chiefly because it takes in the king's interest, which
we are loosed from by reason of his perfidy and Covenant breaking,
both to the most high God, and the people over whom he was set, under
the terms of his propagating the main ends of the Covenants, to wit,
the Reformation of religion ; and instead of that, usurping to himself
the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, and encroaching upon the
liberties of the Church, and so stating himself both in opposition to
Jesus Christ the Mediator, and the free government of His house.

" And also in disowning and protesting against the reception of
the Duke of York, a professed Papist, and whatever else hath been
done in this land (given to the Lord) in prejudice to our covenanted
and universally sworn-to Reformation. And although, as the Lord
who searcheth the heart knows, we be for government and governors,
both civil and ecclesiastic, such as the Word of God and our Cove-
nants allow ; yet, by this we disown the present magistrates, who
openly and avowedly are doing what in them lies for destroying
utterly our work of reformation from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism,
and other heresies and errors ; and by this we declare also, that we
are not any more to own ministers indulged, and such as drive a
sinful union with them ; nor are we to join any more in this public
cause with ministers or professors of any rank, that are guilty of the
defections of this time, until they give satisfaction proportioned to
the scandal and offence they have given.

" Richard Cameron. Michael Cameron.
"Archibald Stewart. John Potter," etc.

Mr Donald Cargill.

OWIE, in his collection of lectures and sermons, has given
twenty pages of notes of the lecture and the discourse
delivered by Donald Cargill before the Torwood Excom-
munication, and the sermon afterwards on Lam. iii. 31, 32, "For the
Lord will not cast off for ever. But though He cause grief, yet will
He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies."

In Wilson's manuscript sermons, already referred to, there are
also notes of the whole. They show that Howie, as in the case ol
those of Richard Cameron, has sometimes made changes on the text
of the manuscript that are by no means an improvement. — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

RELATION of some remarkable passages in the Life of
Mr Donald Cargill. [A former notice of Mr Cargill's
Life, by way of preface to his testimony, will be found
at page i of this volume. — Ed.]

These foregoing testimonies everywhere speaking so
honourably of the reverend Mr Donald Cargill as a
faithful Minister of Jesus Christ : a true and full relation
of his life, and more especially of his ministry, would be very neces-
sary to a right understanding of the state of their testimony ; but by
reason that there are not in the hnnds of the publishers such well-
attested narrations thereof, as might furnish them with an exact and
full history thereof, let it suffice for the present to set down the fol-
lowing accounts collected by that worthy and religious gentleman, Sir
Robert Hamilton of Preston, who ushers them in with this personal
character of Mr Cargill :

502 A Cloud of Witnesses,

" First (saith he) as he was of a most holy, strict, tender and com-
posed practice and conversation, so he was affectionate, affable, and
tender-hearted to all he judged had anything of the image of God in
them : sober and temperate in his diet, saying commonly, It was
well won that was won off the flesh ; generous, liberal, and most
charitable to the poor, a great hater of covetousness, a frequent
visitor of the sick, much alone, loving to be retired ; but when about
liis Master's public work, laying hold of every opportunity to edify ;
in converse still dropping what might minister grace to the hearers ;
his very countenance was edifying to beholders, often sighing with
deep groans : preaching in season and out of season, upon all
hazards, ever the same in judgment and practice."

There were several things remarkable in the manner of his calling
to the ministry ; for after he had perfected his philosophy course, at
the University of St Andrews, his father, a godly and religious gentle-
man pressed much upon him to study divinity, in order to fit him
for the ministry ; but he, through his great tenderness of spirit, con-
stantly refused, telling his father, that the work of the ministry was
too great a weight for his weak shoulders, and requesting him to
command him to any other employment he pleased. But his father
still urging, he resolved to seek the mind of the Lord therein, and for
that end set apart a day of private fasting, and after long and earnest
wrestling with the Lord by prayer, the third chapter of Ezekiel's pro-
phecy, and chiefly these words in the first verse, " Son of man, . . .
eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel," made a strong
impression upon his mind, so that he durst never after refuse his
father's desire, to betake himself to that study, and dedicate himself
wholly to that ofiice. And having got a call to the Barony Parish
of Glasgow, Divine Providence ordered it so, that the first text upon
which the Presbytery ordered him to preach was in these very words
of the third of Ezekiel, which he had got clearness from before ;
whence he was the more confirmed, that he had God's call to that
parish.

The parish had been long vacant, by reason that two ministers
of the Public Resolution party — viz., Mr George Young and Mr
Hugh Blair — had still opposed the settlement of such godly men as
had been called by the people, and had practised secretly with the
Council of Glasgow not to suffer any to be settled there that might
be against the Public Resolutions ; but in reference to Mr Cargill's
call, they were by God's good providence much bound up from their

y]//' Donald Cargill. 503

wonted opposition. Mr Cargill perceiving the lightness of the people,
and their unconcernedness under the Word, was much discouraged
thereat, and resolved to return home, and not to accept the call, and
when urged by the godly ministers not to do it, and his reason
asked, he answered, "They are a rebellious people." The ministers
solicited him much to stay, but could not prevail. At last when his
horse was drawn, and he just about to take journey, being in Mr
James Durham's house, when he had saluted several of the Christian
friends that came to see him take horse, as he was bidding farewell
to a certain godly woman, she said to him, " Sir, you have promised
to preach on Thursday, and have you appointed a meal to a poor
starving people, and will ye go away and not give it ? If you do, the
curse of God will go with you." This so commoved him, that he
durst not go away as he intended, but sitting down, desired her and
others to pray for him. So he remained, and was settled in that
parish, where he continued to exercise his ministry with great success,
to the unspeakable satisfaction of his own parish, and of all the godly
who heard and knew him, till, after the introduction of Prelacy, he
was first put from the exercise thereof in public, and likewise chased
and pursued for exercising it privately, by the bloody violence of
persecutors.

For, upon the 29th of May, which was then consecrate to King
Charles in commemoration of his happy (unhappy) restoration, he
had occasion to preach in his own Church. It falling upon the ordinary
week-day, wherein he used to preach, he saw an unusual throng of
people come to hear him, as thinking he had preached in compliance
with that solemnity. Upon his entering the pulpit he said, " We are
not come here to keep this day upon the account for which others
keep it. We thought once to have blessed the day, wherein the
king came home again ; but now we think we shall have reason to
curse it. And if any of you be come here in order to the solemnising
of this day, we desire you to remove." And he enlarged upon the
unlawfulness of solemnising it, with several weighty arguments.

This did extremely incense the malignant party against him ; so
that being hotly pursued and searched for, he was forced to abscond,
remaining sometimes in private houses of his parish, sometimes lying
without all night among broom near by the city, yet never omitting
any proper occasion of private preaching, exercising, catechising,
visiting families, and other ministerial duties. And after a while he
returned to his church, and preached publicly, and gave the com-

504 -^ Cloud of Witnesses.

munion, not without great fear among the people, lest he should have
been taken out of the pulpit by the persecutors.

At length, when the churches were all vacated of Presbyterians
by an Act of Council, commonly known by the name of the Act
of Glasgow, Middleton sent a band of soldiers to apprehend him,
who, coming to the church, found him not, he having providentially
just stepped out of the one door a minute before they came in at
the other, whereupon they took the keys of the church door with
them and departed. Meantime, the Council passed an act of con-
finement, banishing him to the north, but he did not regard it ; and
so being at length apprehended at Edinburgh, was brought before
the Council and strictly examined, being signally strengthened to
bear faithful testimony to his Master's honour, and His persecuted
cause and truths. But by the interposition of some persons of
quality, his own and his wife's relations, he was liberated. And he
returned presently to Glasgow, and there performed all the ministerial
duties as when he was in his own church, notwithstanding the dili-
gence of persecutors in searching for him.

During this time, partly the great grief he conceived for the niin
of the work of God in the land, partly the toils and labours of his
calling and inconveniences of his accommodation, did so break his
voice, that he could not be heard by many people together, which
was a sore exercise to him, and a discouragement to come to preach
in the fields. But one day, Mr Blackader coming to preach near
Glasgow, he essayed to preach with him, and standing on a chair (as
his ordinary was) he lectured on Isa. xliv. 3, " I will pour water
upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground : I \vill pour
my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."
The people knowing that his voice was sore broken, were much
discouraged lest they should not have heard, by reason of the great
confluence ; but it pleased the Lord so to loose his tongue and restore
his voice to that distinctness and clearness, that none could readily
exceed him in that respect ever after ; and not only his voice, but
his spirit was so enlarged, and such a door of utterance given him,
that Mr Blackader, succeeding him, said to the people, " Ye that
have such preaching as this, have no need to invite strangers to
preach to you. Make good use of your mercy."

After this he continued to preach within a very little of the city,
a great multitude still attending upon and profiting by his ministry,
being wonderfully preserved in the midst of dangers \ the enemies

Mr Donald Car gill. 505

several times sending out some to watch him, and catch something
from his mouth, whereof they might accuse him. Particularly one
day the archbishop of Glasgow sent one of his domestic servants to
take notice what he would say concerning the prelates ; he, knowing
nothing thereof, was directed of the Lord to have these words in
prayer, while he was bewailing the overthrow of the work of God :
" What shall we say of the prelates ? the good Lord make us quit of
them ; for we will never have a day to do well, till once the Lord
remove that abominable party, that has destroyed the vineyard of the
Lord :" which was all that the spy had to return to his master with.

To relate all the surprising deliverances that he met with, in
escaping very narrowly from his enemies, would take much time ;
take only a few instances.

Li the month of October 1665 they made a public search for him
in the city ; he being informed of it, took his horse and rode out of
the town, and at a narrow pass of the way, he met a good number of
musketeers, and as he passed by them, turning into another way upon
the right hand, one of them asked him, " Sir, what of the clock is it?"
He answered, " It is six." Another of them knowing his voice, says
to his fellows, " There's the man we're seeking," which he hearing,
put the spurs to the horse and escaped.

He most usually resided for the space of three years and upwards
in the house of one Margaret Craig, a godly and honest woman,
lecturing evening and morning to such as came to hear him, where,
though they searched frequently for him, yet Divine providence so
ordered it, that at all the times he was either casually or purposely
absent, though they managed their searches with much closeness ;
but the Lord was so graciously kind to him, that He left him not
without some peculiar notices of approaching hazard (our atheistical
wits perhaps will call them enthusiasms ; but the secret of the Lord
is with them that fear him); as for instance, on a certain Sabbath,
when he was going to Woodside to preach, as he was about to mount
his horse, the one foot being in the stirrup, he turned about to his
man, and said, " I must not go yonder to-day," and within a little,
a party of horse and foot came in quest of him, and not finding the
mark they aimed at, fell upon the people, apprehending and imprison-
ing many of them.

Another remarkable escape was, at a search purposely made for
taking him in the city. They came to his chamber, and found him
not, for he was providentially in another house that night ; the search

5o6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

was so strict that several other ministers were taken [but the soldiers],
were not permitted to come near the house where he was. But the
following is yet more remarkable.

One day while he was preaching privately m one Mr Callender's
house, they came and beset the house ; the people within put him
and a friend with him out at a window, closing the window up with
books, and they two stood at the outside of the window all the while
of the search, which was so strict that they searched the very ceiling
of the house, till one of them fell through to the lower loft. Had the
searchers removed but one of the books, they had infallibly appre-
hended him, but the Lord so ordered it, that they did it not, for
when one of the soldiers was about to take up one of them, a maid
cried to the commander, that he was going to take her master's
books, so he was ordered to let them alone ; thus narrowly he
escaped this danger.

Another not imparallel was, that, one day, hotly pursued upon the
street, being obliged to flee into the first house he could come at,
which happened to be a soldier's house, yet the soldier's wife was so
far from discovering him, that she kept him safe till the search was over.

A little before the fight at Bothwell he was pursued from his own
chamber out of the town, being forced to go through several thorn
hedges, and no sooner is he out, but he sees a troop of dragoons in
rank, right opposite to him ; back he could not go, soldiers being
everywhere posted to catch him ; wherefore he went forward near by
the troop, who looked to him, and he to them, till he was gone by
them, but coming to the place of the water where he intended to go
over, he saw another troop standing upon the opposite bank of the
water, who called to him ; he made them no answer ; but, going a
mile further up the water, escaped to Langside, and preached there
next Sabbath, without interruption.

At another time, being in a house, beset with soldiers, he escaped
through the throng of them, they taking him to have been the goodman
[/>., the head] of the house. So much anent his remarkable deliveries.

After Bothwell he fell into deep exercise anent his call to the
ministry, but by God's grace he happily emerged out of that, and had
also much light anent the duty of the day, being a faithful contender
against the enemies' usurped power in granting, and ministers' and
professors' lukewarmness and sinful compliance in accepting, indul-
gences and indemnities, oaths and bonds, and other corruptions and
abominations of the time, till at length he suffered for his testimony.

Mr Donald CargilL 507

Among other parts of his contendings against the enemies of
truth and godhness, that which exasperated the enemies most, was
tlie Torwood Excommunication, wherein he, moved with zeal against
the indignities done to the Son of God, by overturning His work and
destroying His people, delivered up to Satan some of the most
scandalous and principal promoters and abettors of this conspiracy
against Christ, as formally as he could in his circumstances ; who,
having earnestly sought the concurrence of his brethren, could not
obtain it, and therefore was left to do the work his alone, or leave it
undone, which he could by no means think of ; considering that all
other sorts of weapons had been used against them, save that of
ecclesiastic censure, and the neglect of it might bring upon this
Church that severe reproof given to Pergamos, Rev. ii. 14, 15, for
having in her communion the Nicolaitans, and them that held the
doctrine of Balaam ; and that sore animadversion made upon the
Church of Thyatira, for suffering that woman Jezebel; and lest the
Lord might come and fight against His Church with the sword of
His mouth, on account that such were not expressly cast out of her
communion.

Wherefore in September 1680, after sermon upon Ezek. xxi.
25-27, *' i\nd thou profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is
come ;" having made a short and pertinent discourse on the nature,
subject, causes, and ends of excommunication, and declared his
motives, leading him to it, not to be any private spirit or passion,
but conscience of duty and zeal to God, he pronounced the sentence
as follows :

" We have spoken of excommunication, of the causes, subject, and
ends thereof. We shall now proceed to the action; being constrained
by the conscience of our duty, and zeal for God, to excommunicate
some of these, who have been the committers of so great crimes, and
authors of the great mischiefs of Britain and Ireland, but especially
these of Scotland ; and in doing of this, we shall keep the names by
which they are ordinarily called, that they may be the better known.

" I being a minister of Jesus Christ, and having authority antl
power from Him, do in His name, and by His spirit, excommuni-
cate Charles the Second, King, etc., and that upon the account of
these wickednesses :

" I. For his high mocking of God, in that after he had acknow-
ledged his own sins, his father's sins, his mother's idolatry, and had
solemnly engaged against them, in a declaration at Dunfermline, the

5o8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

1 6th day of August 1650, he hath, notwithstanding of all this, gone
on more avowedly in these sins than all that went before him.

*' 2. For his great perjury, after he had twice at least solemnly
subscribed that Covenant, he did so presumptuously renounce, dis-
own, and command it to be burned by the hand of the hangman.

" 3. Because he hath rescinded all laws for establishing of that
religion and reformation engaged to in that Covenant, and enacted
laws for establishing its contrary ; and is still working for the intro-
ducing of Popery into these lands.

" 4. For commanding of armies to destroy the Lord's people,
who were standing in their own just defence, and for their privileges
and rights, against tyrannies, oppressions, and injuries of men ; and
for the blood he hath shed, in fields, on scaffolds, and in seas, of the
people of God, upon account of religion and righteousness (they
being most willing in all other things, to render him obedience, if
he had reigned and ruled them according to his Covenant and oath,
more than all the kings that have been before him in Scotland).

" 5. That he hath been still an enemy to, a persecutor of, the
true Protestants, a favourer and helper of the Papists, both at home
and abroad, and hath hindered to the utmost of his power, the due
execution of just laws against them.

" 6. For his relaxing of the kingdom, by his frequent grant of
remissions and pardons for murderers (which is in the power of no
king to do, being expressly contrary to the law of God), which was
the ready way to embolden men in committing of murders, to the
defiling of the land with blood.

" Lastly, To pass by all other things, his great and dreadful
uncleanness of adultery and incest, his drunkenness, his dissembling
with God and man ; and performing his promises where his engage-
ments were sinful.

" Next, by the same authority, and in the same name, I excom-
municate, cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to Satan, James
Duke of York. And that for his idolatry (for I shall not speak of
any other sins, but what have been perpetrated by him in Scotland),
and for setting up idolatry in Scotland, to defile the Lord's land, and
his enticing and encouraging others to do so.

" Next, In the same name, and by the same authority, I excom-
municate, and cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to Satan,
James Duke of Monmouth, for coming into Scotland, upon his
father's unjust command, and leading armies against the Lord's

Mr Donald Car gill. 509

people, who were constrained to rise, being killed in and for the
right worshipping of the true God : and for his refusing that morning
at Bothwell Bridge a cessation of arms, for hearing and redressing
their injuries, wrongs, and oppressions.

" Next, I do by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name,
excommunicate, cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to Satan,
John Duke of Lauderdale, for his dreadful blasphemy, especially
that word to the prelate of St Andrews : — " Sit thou at my right hand
until I make thine enemies thy footstool :" his atheistical drolling on
the Scriptures of God, scoffing at religion, and religious persons :
his apostacy from the Covenant and work of reformation ; and his
persecuting thereof, after he had been a professor, pleader and
presser thereof: for his perjury in the business of Mr James Mitchell,
who, being in Council, gave public faith, that he should be indem-
nified, and that to life and hmb, if he should confess his attempt on
the prelate, and notwithstanding of this, before the Justiciary Court,
did give oath that there was no such act in Council : for his adul-
teries and uncleanness : for his counselUng and assisting the king,
in all his tyrannies, overturning and plotting against the true religion :
for his gaming on the Lord's day ; and lastly, for his usual and
ordinary cursing.

" Next, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same
name, cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to Satan, John
Duke of Rothes, for his perjury, in the matter of Mr James Mitchell ;
and for his adulteries and uncleanness ; for allotting the Lord's day
for his drunkenness : for his professing and avowing his readiness
and willingness to set up Popery in this land at the king's command;
and for the heathenish, barbarous, and unheard of cruelty (whereof
he was the chief author, contriver, and commander, notwithstanding
that he had otherwise engaged lately) to that worthy gentleman
David Hackston of Rathillet ; and lastly, for his ordinary cursing,
swearing, and drunkenness.

" Next, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same
name, excommunicate, cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to
Satan, Sir George Mackenzie, the king's advocate ; for his apostacy,
in turning into a profligateness of conversation, after he had begun a
profession of holiness : for his constant pleading against, and perse-
cuting to death, the people of God, and alleging and laying to their
charge, things, which in his conscience he knew to be against the
Word of God, truth, reason, and the ancient laws of this kingdom :

5 1 o A Cloud of Wihiesses.

and his pleading for sorcerers, murderers, and other criminals, that
before God, and by the laws of the land, ought to die ; for his
ungodly, erroneous, phantastic and blasphemous tenets, ])rinted to
the world in his pamphlets and pasquils.

" And lastly, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same
name, excommunicate, cast out of the true Church, and deliver up
to Satan, Thomas Dalziel of Binns, etc. ; for his leading armies, and
commanding the killing, robbing, pillaging, and oppressing of the
Lord's people, and free subjects of this kingdom ; and for executing
of lawless tyrannies and lustful laws ; for his commanding to shoot at
a post one Finlay at Newmilns, without any form of law, civil or
military, he not being guilty of anything that they themselves
counted a crime : for his lewd and impious life, led in adultery and
uncleanness from his youth, with a contempt of marriage, which is
the ordinance of God; for all his other atheistical and irreligious
conversation ; and lastly, for his unjust usurping and retaining of the
estate of that worthy gentleman William Mure of Caldwell, and his
other injurious deeds in the exercise of his power.

" I think, none that acknowledge the Word, can judge their sen-
tences to be unjust : yet some, it may be, to flatter the powers, will
call them unorderly and unformal, there not being warning given, nor
probation led. But for answer, there has been warning given, if not
of all these things, at least of a great part of them : and for proba-
tion, there needs none, the deeds being notour and public, and the
most of them, such as they themselves do avow and boast of And
as the causes are just, so, being done by a minister of the Gospel,
and in such a way as the i)resent persecution would admit of, the
sentence is just ; and there are no kings nor ministers on earth, who,
without repentance of the persons, can reverse these sentences upon
any (such) account : God, who is the Author of that ordinance, is
the more engaged to the ratifying of them ; and all that acknowledge
the Scriptures, ought to acknowledge them. Yet some, perchance,
will think, that though they be not unjust, yet that they are foolishly
rigorous. We shall answer nothing to this but that Word, which we
may speak Avith much more reason than they did who used it,
'Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?' Should they
deal with our God as with an idol? Should they deal with His
people as murderers and malefactors, and we not draw out His sword
against them?"

Henry Hall.

BRIEF relation of the Persecutions and Death of that
worthy gentleman, Henry Hall of Haughhead, who
suffered martyrdom at Queensferry, June 3d, 1680.
[For a further account of the Queensferry paper
found upon Henry Hall, see page 35. In the follow-
ing Relation it is abridged to about a fifth of its
original size, and like most abridgments, it gives but
an imperfect idea of the document itself, or of the
power with which it states rights and liberties then denied to the
subject, but now regarded as a heritage which no ruler can take
away. — Ed.]

Henry Hall of Haughhead, having had religious education, began
early to mind a life of holiness ; and was of a pious conversation from
his youth. He was a zealous opposer of the Public Resolutions, inso-
much that when the minister of the parish where he lived complied with
that course, he refused to hear him, and went to Ancrum, to hear Mr
Jolin Li\'ingstone. Being oppressed with the malicious prosecutions
of the curates and other malignants for his nonconformity with the
profane courses of abomination that commenced at the unhappy
restoration of that most wicked tyrant Charles the Second, [he] was
obliged to depart his native country, and go over the border into
England in the year 1665, where he was much renowned for his
singular zeal in propagating the Gospel among that people, who,
before his coming among them, were very rude and barbarous ; but
many of them became famous for piety after.

In the year 1666, he was taken on his way to Pentland, coming
to the assistance of his covenanted brethren, and was imprisoned with
some others in Cessford Castle; but by the Divine goodness he soon
escaped thence, through the favour of the Earl of Roxburgh, to
whom the castle pertained, the said Earl being his friend and relation,
from which time till about the year 1679 he lived in England, much

512 A Cloud of Witnesses.

beloved of all that knew him, for his concern in propagating the
knowledge of Christ in that country ; insomuch that his blameless
and shining Christian conversation drew reverence and esteem from
his very enemies.

But about the year 1678, the heat of the persecution in Scot-
land obliging many to wander up and down through Northumber-
land and other places, one Colonel Struthers, intending to seize any
Scotsman he could find in those parts, and meeting with Thomas
Ker of Hayhope, one of Henry Hall's nearest intimates, he was
engaged in that encounter upon the account of the said Thomas
Ker, who was killed there ; upon which account he was forced to
return to Scotland, and wandered up and down during the hottest
time of the persecution, mostly with Mr Richard Cameron and Mr
Donald Cargill ; during which time, besides his many other Christian
virtues, he signalised himself for a real zeal in defence of the perse-
cuted Gospel preached in the fields, and gave several proofs of his
valour and courage, particularly at Rutherglen, Drumclog, Glasgow
and Bothwell Bridge ; whereupon, being forfeited and violently pur-
sued, to eschew the violent hands of his indefatigable persecutors, he
was forced to go over to Holland ; where he had not stayed long
when his zeal for the persecuted interest of Christ, and his tender
sympathy with the afflicted remnant of his covenanted brethren in
Scotland, then wandering through the desolate caves and dens of the
earth, drew him home, choosing rather to undergo the utmost efforts
of persecuting furies than to live at ease, when Joseph was in afflic-
tion ; making Moses' generous choice, rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God, that he might be partaker of the fellowship of
Christ's sufferings, than to enjoy what momentary pleasure the ease
of the world could afford ; nor was he much concerned with the
riches of the world, for he stood not to give his ground to hold the
prohibited field-preachings upon, when none else would do it. He
was a lover and follower of the faithfully-preached Gospel, and was
always against the Indulgence ; he was with Mr Richard Cameron at
these meetings where he was censured.

About a quarter of a year after his return from Holland, being in
company with the reverend Mr Donald Cargill, they were taken
notice of by two bloodhounds, the curates of Borrowstounness and
Carriden, who went to Middleton, governor of Blackness Castle, and
informed him of them ; who, having consulted with these blood-
thirsty ruffians, ordered his soldiers to follow him at a distance by

The Tolbootu, Glasgow

Henry Hall. 5 1 3

two or three together, with convenient intervals for avoiding sus-
picion, and he (the said Middleton) and his man riding up, observed
where they aHghted and stabled their horses ; and coming to them,
pretended a great deal of kindness and civility to Mr Donald Cargill
and him, desiring that they might have a glass of wine together.
When they were set \i.e., seated] and had taken each a glass. Middle-
ton laid hands on them, and told them they were his prisoners,
commanding, in the king's name, all the people in the house to
assist, which they all refused save a certain waiter \i.e.^ excise officer],
through whose means the governor got the gates shut, till his soldiers
came up ; and when the women of the town, rising to the rescue of
the prisoners, had broke up the outer gate, Henry Hall, after some
scuffle with the governor in the house, making his escape by the
gate, received his mortal blow upon the head with a carabine, by
Thomas George, waiter ; and being conveyed out of the town by the
assistance of the women, walked some pretty space of way upon his
foot, but unable to speak much, save only that he made some short
reflection upon a woman that, interposing between him and the
governor, hindered him to kill the governor, and so to make his
escape timeously.

So soon as he fainted, the women carried him to a house in the
country, but notwithstanding the care of chirurgeons [?>., surgeons] he
never recovered the power of speaking more. General Dalziel being
advertised, came with a party of the guards, and carried him to
Edinburgh. He died by the way. His corpse they carried to the
Canongate Tolbooth, and kept it there three days without burial,
though a number of friends convened for that effect, and thereafter
they caused bury him clandestinely in the night. Such was the fury
of these limbs of antichrist, that, having killed the witnesses, they
would not suffer their dead bodies to be decently put in graves.

There was found upon him a rude draught of a paper containing a
mutual engagement to stand to the necessary duty of the day against
its stated enemies ; which was called by the persecutors Mr Cargill's
covenant, and frequently in the foregoing testimonies, the Queens-
ferry Paper, because there it was seized by the enemies. This paper
Divine Providence seems to have made, as it were, the dying words
and testimony of that worthy gentleman, and the enemies made it
one of the captious and ensnaring questions they constantly put to
the sufferers ; and therefore it will not be impertinent here to insert
the heads of it, as they are compendised by the learned author of the

514 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

"Hind let Loose," page 133 [Edition of 1744, p. 148] ; for it was
still owned by Mr Donald Cargill, that the draught was not digested
and polished as it was intended, and therefore it will be so far from
being a wrong to recite the heads of it only, that it is really a piece
of justice done him, who never intended it should see the world as
it was when the enemies found it. I shall not pretend to justify
every expression in it, but rather submit it entirely to better judg-
ments ; nor did the sufferers for most part adhere to it, without the
limitation, "' in so far as it was agreeable to the Word of God, and our
National Covenants," and, in so far as it seems to import a purpose
of assuming to themselves magistratical authority, their practice de-
clares all along, that they did not understand it in that sense.

The tenor of it was an engagement —

" I. To avouch the only true and living God to be their God,
and to close with His way of redemption by His Son Jesus Christ,
whose righteousness is only to be relied upon for justification ; and
to take the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the only
object matter of our faith, and rule of conversation in all things.

" 2. To establish in the land righteousness and religion, in the
truth of its doctrine, purity, and power of its worship, discipline, and
government ; and to free the Church of God of the corruption of
Prelacy on the one hand, and the thraldom of Erastianism on the
otlier.

" 3. To persevere in the doctrine of the Reformed churches,
especially that of Scotland, and in the worship prescribed in the
Scriptures, without the inventions, adornings, and corruptions of
men ; and in the Presbyterian government exercised in sessions,
presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies, as a distinct govern-
ment from the civil, and distinctly to be exercised, not after a
carnal manner by plurality of votes, or authority of a single per-
son, but according to the Word of God making and carrying the
sentence.

"4. To endeavour the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness,
and whatsoever is contrary to the kingdom of Christ, especially
Idolatry and Popery in all its articles, and the overthrow of that
power that hath established and upheld it ; and to execute righteous
judgment impartially, according to the Word of God and degree of
offences, upon the committers of these things, especially, to wit,
blasphemy, idolatry, atheism, sorcer)', perjury, uncleanness, profana-
tion of the Lord's day, oppression, and malignancy.

Henry Hall. 5 1 5

" 5. Seriously considering that there is no more speedy way of re-
laxation from the wrath of God, that hath ever lain on the lands since it
engaged with these rulers, but of rejecting them, who have so mani-
festly rejected God— disclaiming His Covenant, governing contrary
to all right laws, Divine and human, and contrary to all the endy of
government, by enacting and commanding impieties, injuries, and rob-
beries— to the denying of God His due, and the subjects theirs ; so
that, instead of government, godliness, and peace, there is nothing
but rapine, tumult, and blood, which cannot be called a government,
but a lustful rage ; and they cannot be called governors, but pubUc
grassators and land-judgments ; which all ought to set themselves
against, as they would do against pestilence, sword, and famine raging
amongst them — seeing they have stopped the course of law and
justice against blasphemers, idolaters, atheists, sorcerers, murderers,
mcestuous and adulterous persons ; and have made butcheries on
the Lord's people, sold them as slaves, imprisoned, forfeited, etc.,
and that upon no other account but their maintaining Christ's right
of ruling over their consciences, against the usurpations of men.
Therefore, easily solving the objections :

" (i.) Of our ancestors' obliging the nation to this race and line:
that they did not buy their liberty with our thraldom, nor could they
bind their children to anything so much to their prejudice, and
against natural Uberty (being a benefit next to life, if not in some
regard above it), which is not as an engagement to moral things ;
they could only bind to that government which they esteemed the
best for common good ; which reason ceasing, we are free to choose
another, if we find it more conducible for that end :

" (2.) Of the Covenant binding to defend the king : that that
obligation is only in his maintenance of the true Covenanted Re-
formation, which homage they cannot now require upon the account
of the Covenant which they have renounced and disclaimed ; and
upon no other ground we are bound to them — the crown not being
an inheritance that passeth from father to son, without the consent
of tenants :

" (3.) Of the hope of their returning from these courses, whereof
there is none, seeing they have so often declared their purposes of
persevering in them. And suppose they should dissemble a repent-
ance— supposing also they might be pardoned for that which is done,
from whose guiltiness the land cannot be cleansed but by executing
God's righteous judgments upon them — yet they cannot now be

5 1 6 A Cloud of Witnesses.

believed, after they have violated all that human wisdom could
devise to bind them :

" Upon these accounts they reject that king and those associated
with him in the government, and declare them henceforth no lawful
rulers, as they had declared them to be no lawful subjects — they
having destroyed the established religion, overturned the funda-
mental laws of the kingdom, taken away Christ's church-government,
and changed the civil government into tyranny, where none are
associated in partaking of the government, but only those who will
be found by justice guilty as criminals \ and declare they shall, God
giving them power, set up government and governors according to
the Word of God and the qualifications required (Exod. xviii. 21);
and shall not commit the government to any single person or lineal
succession ; being not tied, as the Jews were, to one single family,
and that kind being liable to most inconveniences, and aptest to
degenerate into tyranny. And moreover, that these men set over
them shall be engaged to govern principally by that civil and judi-
cial law (not that which is any way typical) given by God to His
people Israel — as the best, so far as it goes, being given by God —
especially in matters of life and death, and other things, so far as
they reach and are consistent with Christian liberty — exempting
divorces and polygamy, etc.

" 6. Seeing the greatest part of ministers not only were defective
in preaching against the rulers for overthrowing religion, but hindered
others also who were wiUing, and censured some that did it ; and
have voted for acceptation of that liberty, founded upon and given
by virtue of that blasphemously arrogated and usurped power, and
appeared before their courts to accept of it, and to be enacted and
authorised their ministers, whereby they have become ministers of
men, and bound to be answerable to them as they will ; and have
preached for the lawfulness of paying that tribute declared to be
imposed for the bearing down of the true worship of God ; and
advised poor prisoners to subscribe that bond, which, if it were
universally subscribed, they should close that door, which the Lord
hath made use of in all the churches of Europe, for casting off the
yoke of the whore, and stop all regress of men, when once brought
under tyranny, to recover their liberty again. They declare they
neither can nor will hear them, etc., nor any who encouraged and
strengthened their hands, and pleaded for them, and trafficked for
union with them.

Henry Hall. 517

" 7. That they are for a standing Gospel ministry, rightly chosen
and rightly ordained, and that none shall take upon them the
preaching of the Word, etc., unless called and ordained thereunto.
And whereas separation might be imputed to them, they refel [z>.,
disprove] both the malice, and the ignorance of the calumny —
for if there be a separation, it must be where the change is ; and that
was not to be found in them, who were not separating from the com-
munion of the true Church, nor setting up a new ministry, but cleaving
to the same ministers and ordinances that formerly they followed,
when others have fled to new ways and a new authority, which is
like the old piece in the new garment.

" 8. That they shall defend themselves in their civil, natural, and
divine rights and liberties. And if any assault them, they shall look
on it as a declaring a war, and take all advantages that one enemy
does of another ; but trouble and injure none, but those that injure
them."

A List of the Banished.

T the time the " Cloud of Witnesses " was drawn up, the com-
pilers do not seem to have had access to such full informa-
tion as Wodrow. Hence the list of the banished given by
them is far from being full. It is, however, generally accurate so far
as it goes. The additional information given has been inserted in
brackets throughout the list. — Ed.]

> ^t^ <

O speak nothing of those whom the cruelty of the
persecutors forced to a voluntary exile, of whom there
can be no particular account had, besides the six or
seven ministers [i.e., James Simpson of Airth, Robert
M'Ward of Glasgow, John Brown of Wamphray, John
Livingston of Ancrum, John Nevay of Newmilns,
Robert Trail of Edinburgh, and James Gardiner of
Saddle] that were banished and went to Holland,
and seven or eight country people to France, several others [were
banished] to Barbadoes, before the year 1666.

[Wodrow gives an account of the banishment of William Gordon
of Earlstoun to Holland; of four boys in 1664 to the Barbadoes;
of two brothers to Virginia ; of John Sproul, apothecary, Glasgow,
who, on his return, in 1680, from Holland, in order to take his wife
and family to Rotterdam, was apprehended, and put to the torture,
as stated in a former note (p. 98) ; and of several persons in 1665,
whose names are not given, to the Barbadoes. — Ed.]

After the year 1678, there were banished to be sold for slaves, for
the same cause for which others suffered death at home, of men and
women about 1700 — viz. :

A List of the Banished. 5 1 9

NNO 1678. — To Virginia 60, whereof three or four were
ministers, who were all by the mercy of God delivered at
London.

[In May 1678, a conventicle was held at William wood, in the
parish of Cathcart, Renfrewshire. John Campbell of Horn, Matthew
Crawford of Eastwood, and some others not mentioned, preached.
An alarm was given which dispersed the meeting. Several of the
ministers escaped, but the dragoons pursued the people that had
been assembled, and about seventy were taken prisoners to Glasgow.
Among others were the well-known Alexander Peden, Robert Meikle,
chaplain to Sir James Stewart, and Adam Abercorn, chaplain. After a
few days' confinement they were taken to Edinburgh. On May 28th,
and June 13th, the Council banished them to his majesty's plantations
in the Indies, and Ralph Williamson of London gave security that he
would transport them and sell them to the best advantage. They lay
in prison till December, when a warrant was given to deliver them to
Edward Johnston, captain of the St Michael of Scarborough, lying at
Leith. Their names, amounting to sixty-seven, are given in Wodrow.
The passage between Leith and Gravesend was five days longer than
Williamson had expected, and when the ship arrived he was not to
be found. The captain waited for some time, and as provisions ran
short, and Williamson did not appear, he set them ashore and left
them to shift for themselves. Wodrow says that the country people
were very kind to them when they knew the cause of their sufferings,
and they generally got home safe after they had been absent from
their homes about nine months. Wodrow also gives, under the same
year 1678, the sentence of banishment passed upon William Temple,
James Miller in Kirkcaldy, David Barclay, Robert Mamock, and
seven or eight more ; John Harroway, Alexander Buchanan in Buck-
lyvie, and three or four others there ; Andrew Buchanan in Shar-
garton, and three more tenants there ; Thomas and William Govans,
and nine others. — Ed.]

NNO 1679. — Of the prisoners taken at Bothwell were banished
to America, 250 [rather 257. See fuller account in prefatory
note to the testimony of John Malcolm, p. 66], who were
taken away by (William) Paterson, merchant in Leith, who transacted
for them with Provost Milns, laird of Barnton [and bailie or provost
of Linlithgow], the man that first burned the Covenant : whereof

520 A Cloud of Witnesses.

two hundred were drowned by shipwreck at a place called the Moul
Head of Deerness, in Orkney, being shut up by the said Paterson's
order beneath the hatches ; fifty only escaped. The names, so many
of them as could be had, follow ; those who escaped being marked
with a star for distinction's sake.
Out of the shire of Clydesdale :

City of Glasgow, Francis Wodrow, Walter M'Kechnie, Alex-
ander Pirie, William Miller.
Parish of Govan, Andrew Snodgrass.
Parish of Kilbride, Robert Auld, John Struthers, James Clark,

John Clark, William Rodger.
Parish of Shotts, Peter Lermont, Robert Russel, John Aitkin,

Robert Chalmers, John Thomson,* John Killen, Alexander

Walker.
Parish of Cambusnethan, William Scular.*
The Monklands, William Waddel,* .William Grinlaw, Thomas

Mathie, William Miller, John Wynet, James Waddel, John

Gardner,* Thomas Barton,

Parish of Bothwell, More,* William Breakenrig.

Parish of Evandale, John Cairnduff, John Cochran, Robert

Alison, Andrew Torrence, Thomas Brownlee, John Watson,

William Alison, Andrew Aiton.
Parish of Cadder, William Fram.*
Parish of Glassford, John Miller, John Craig.
Parish of Carnwath, Thomas Crighton, James Couper.
Parish of Quathquan, James Penman,* James Thomson,

Thomas Wilson.
Parish of Carstairs, Thomas Swan.*
Parish of Biggar, John Rankin.
Parish of Lesmahagow, George Weir, Robert Weir, George

Drafin,* [after his escape he was conveyed to America. — Ed.]
Out of the shire of Ayr :

Parish of Fenwick, James Gray, Andrew Buckle, David Currie,

David Bitchet, Robert Tod, John White, Robert Wallace,*

John Wylie, William Bitchet.
Parish of Loudon, Thomas Wylie.
Parish of Dalmellington, Hugh Simpson, Walter Humper,

Walter Humper, younger,* Hugh Cameron,* Quintin

M'Adam,*
Parish of Cumnock, John Gemill, James Mirrie.

A List of the Bamshed. 521

Parish of Ochiltree, Andrew Welsh.

Parish of Auchinleck, Andrew Richmond.

Dundonald, Andrew Thomson.*

Mauchline, William Reid, AVilliam Drips.

Parish of Muirkirk, John Campbell, Alexander Paterson.

Parish of Digen \t.e., Dreghorn], Janies Bouston.

Parish of Galston, James Young, George Campbell.

Parish of Kilmarnock, Thomas Finlay, John Cuthbertson,

William Brown, Patrick Watt,* Robert Anderson, James

Anderson.
Parish of Stewarton, Thos. Wylie, Andrew Wylie, Robt. Wylie.
Parish of Barr, Alexander Burden.
Parish of Colmonell, Thomas M'Lurg, John M'Cornock, John

M'Lellan.
Parish of Girvan, William Caldwell.
Parish of Dairy, David M'Cubbin, William M'Culloch.
Parish of Maybole, William Rodger, Mungo Eccles, John

M'Whirter, Thomas Horn, Robert M'Garron, John M'Harie.
Parish of Craigie, George Dunbar.*
Parish ofStraiton, James M'Murrie, Alexander Lamb, George

Hutcheson.
Parish of Kirkmichael, John Brice, Robert Ramsay, John

Douglass, John M'Tire, James M'Connel.
Parish of Kirkoswald, John White, Thomas Germont.
Out of the shire of Fife :

Parish of Newburn, James Beal.

Parish of Largo and Kilconquhar, Andrew Prie, James Kirk.
Parish of Ceres, John Kirk, Thomas Miller.*
Parish of Strathmiglo, Robert Boog.
Out of [the shire of Kinross] :

Town of Kinross, James Lilburn.
Parish of Oiwell, Robert Kirk,* Robert Sands.*
Out of the shire of Perth :

Parish of Kilmadock, John Christison.
Parish of Kincardine, Patrick Keir, John Donaldson.
Parish of Glendevon, John Murie and Andrew Murie.
Out of the shire of Baronthrow [/.<?., Renfrew] :
Parish of Eastwood, James Cunningham.
Parish of Neilston, John Govan.
Paisley, William Buchan, William Auchinclose.

52 2 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Out of the shire of Lennox \i.e., Dumbarton] :
Parish of New Kilpatrick, James Finlayson.
Out of the shire of Stirling :

Parish of Drummond, Daniel Cunningham.

Parish of Kippen, James Galbraith.

Gargunnock, Thomas Miller, Patrick Gilchrist, James Sands,*

Thomas Brown, James Buchanan.
Parish of St Ninian's, Thomas Thomson,* Andrew Thomson,*

John Neilson, John M'Nure.
Parish of Denny, James M'Kie.
Parish of Airth, Andrew Young, John Morison, Robert

Hendrie.
Parish of Falkirk, Hugh Montgomerie.*
Muiravonside, Thomas Phalp.
Out of the shire of West Lothian :

Parish of Torphichen, John Allan, John Thomson, John

Pender,* James Easton, John Easton,* Andrew Easton,

John Addie, Alexander Bishop.
Dalmeny, John Thomson.
Livingston, Thomas Inglis, Patrick Hamilton, John Bell,

Patrick Wilson, William Younger, William Henderson, John

Steven.
Parish of KirkHston, John Govan.
Bathgate, David Ralton.
Parish of Abercorn, John Gib, James Gib.
Parish of Linlithgow, Thomas Borthwick.
Parish of Kinneil [now Borrowstounness], Andrew Murdoch.
Out of the shire of Mid-Lothian :

Parish of Calder, James Steel, Thomas Gilchrist, James Graze,

John Russel.
Mid-Calder, John Brown, Alexander Mutray.
East Calder, David Samuel,* Alexander Bissit.
Parish of Stow, Thomas Pringle.
Parish of Temple, James Tinto.
Parish of Liberton, Thomas Mackenzie.*
Parish of Crichton, James Fork.
Parish of Cranston, Thomas Williamson.
Musselburgh, William Reid.
Out of the shire of East Lothian :
Parish of Dunbar, James Tod.

A List of the Banished. 523

Out of the shire of Nithsdale :

Parish of Glencairn, David Mackervail, John Ferguson, Robert
MiUigan, John MilHgan,* John Murdoch,* John Smith,*
Wilham Ferguson,* James Colvil, Thomas Rosper.

Parish of Closeburn, Thomas Milhgan, John Kennedy.
Out of the shire of Galloway :

Parish of Kirkcudbright, James Corson, Andrew M'Quhan,*
John M'Bratney,* John M'Gie.* [Wodrow gives an extract
from a letter of James Corson, dated Leith Roads, in which
he says that all the trouble they met with since Bothwell
was not to be compared to one day in their present circum-
stances, that their uneasiness was beyond words, yet, that
the consolations of God overbalanced all ; and expresses
his hope that they are near their port, and that heaven is
open for them. — Ed.]

Parish of Balmaghie, Robert Caldow,* James Houston.

Parish of Kelton, James Donaldson.

Parish of Kirkmabreck, Robert Brown, Samuel Beck, Samuel
Hannay.

Parish of Penninghame, John M'Tagart, Alexander Murray.*

Parish of Borgue, Andrew Sprot, Robert Bryce, John Richard-
son,* John Martine,* John Brice, William Thomson.

Parish of Girthon, Andrew Donaldson.

Parish of Dairy, John Smith,* John Malcolm.* {See his
" Dying Testimony," p. 66.]

Irongray, Andrew Wallet.

Balmaclellan, John Edgar.*

Lochrutton, Andrew Clark.*

Ettrick Forest, John Scot.

Parish of Galashiels, Robert Macgill,* Robert Young,
Out of the shires of Merse and Teviotdale —

Parish of Nethan {i.e., Nenthorn], Samuel Nisbet, John Deans,
James Aitchison.*

Parish of Cavers, James Leydon,* John Glasgow,* William
Glasgow,* John Greenshields, Richard Young, Samuel
Douglas, James Young,* James Hopkirk.

Kelso, William Hardie.

Jedburgh, John Mather.

Parish of Ancrum, George Rutherford.

Parish of Sprouston, Walter Waddel and Thomas Cairns.

524 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Parish of Melrose, John Young and Andrew Cook.

Parish of Castletoun, William Scot, John Pringle, Alexander

Waddel, and John Unnes.
Parish of Ashkirk, William Herd.
Parish of Baudon [/>., Bowden], Andrew Newbigging.
Parish of Sudon \i.e., Southdean], James Couston, William

Swanston,"* John Eliot.
Parish of Hobkirk, John Oliver.

HESE seven following were sentenced and banished to West
Flanders, who departed the kingdom, March 4, 1684 :
Thomas Jackson, George Jackson, James Forrest elder,

James Forrest younger, John Coline, James Gourlay, Gillies

[in Wodrow, Dennis Gilcreif ]

[Wodrow says the above-named were before the Committee for
Public Affairs, and in their joint testimony they relate that the Chan-
cellor, after a long speech charging them with rebellious principles,
declared they were banished to West Flanders, never to return under
pain of death. In their testimony they vindicate themselves from
the charge of disloyalty and rebellion, and profess their attachment
to the Scriptures, Confession, and Covenants, against Popery, Pre-
lacy, etc. John Coline has a separate testimony of his own, in which
he gives the reason why he could not say " God save the king." He
asked the committee to let him know the meaning of the words, and
they told it signified an owning of his person, and government, and
laws, and present actings. This, he says, satisfied him that he was
right in refusing to utter them. — Ed.]

FTERWARDS were banished to Carolina thirty, who were
transported in James Gibson's ship, called sometime Bailie
Gibson in Glasgow, of whom it is observed, that in God's
righteous judgment he was cast away in Carolina Bay, when he
commanded in the " Rising Sun." They recei\ed their sentence,
July 17, 1684. The names of such as subscribed the joint testi-
mony are these : Matthew Machan, James M'Clintock, John Gibson,
Gavin Black, John Baton, William Inglis, John Young, John Gait,
John Edwards, Thomas Marshal, George Smith, William Smith,
Robert Urie, John Buchanan, Thomas Brice, John Simon, Hugh
Simon, William Simon, Archibald Cunningham, John Alexander,
John Marshal.

A List of the Banished. 525

[In May 27, 1684, the Council passed an act, granting prisoners
to Walter Gibson, merchant in Glasgow, to be by him transported to
America. On June 19, Sir William Paterson reported to the Council
that twenty-two prisoners are in the tolbooth of Glasgow ; and they
are ordered to be transported in Walter Gibson's ship. Many, if not
all of these, seem to have been shipped along with the twenty-one
subscribers to the joint testimony against the king's supremacy and
the renouncing of the Covenants above mentioned. The ship was
commanded by Walter Gibson's brother, James, a person well known
in Scodand at the time of the publication of the " Cloud of Wit-
nesses" as the commander of the " Rising Sun," a ship of sixty guns,
and the chief ship in the second squadron sent out to the ill-fated
Darien settlement. When the settlement broke up, the " Rising Sun"
returned homewards, and had reached as far as the Gulf of Florida,
when a violent storm carried away the masts, shattered the boats,
and compelled them, with the help of a jury mast, to make for
Carolina. In ten days they reached Charleston, and lay at anchor
until their guns were taken out so as to get over the bar, when a
hurricane arose, and the ship and all on board perished, September
3, 1700.

Captain Gibson behaved with extreme harshness to the prisoners
on the voyage. Their daily allowance of water was a mutchkin (less
than an English pint), and an ounce and a-quarter of salt beef; and
during the voyage they experienced all the horrors of what was known
in the next century as the middle passage. — Ed.]

HEREAFTER in July 19, 1684, John Mathieson, John
Crighton, James M'Gachen, John M'Chesnie, James Baird,
were banished to New Jersey in America.
[Wodrow's date is June 19, 1684. " He says : At Edinburgh the
Lords, by sentence, appoint James M'Gachen in Dairy, John Crighton
in Kirkpatrick, John Mathieson in Closeburn, John M'Chesnie in
Spittle, libelled for reset and converse with rebels, found guilty by
their confession judicially adhered to, to be transported to the
plantations."

John Mathieson survived the Revolution of 1688, returned home,
and died Oct. i, 1709. He wrote a testimony some years before
his death, when he was under sore sickness and in expectation of
his approaching end. John Calderwood of Clanfin published it in
1806 in his "Collection of Dying Testimonies," a volume now very

526 A Cloud 0/ Witnesses.

rare. John Mathieson, like not a few of the Presbyterians some
years after the Revolution, inveighs in strong terms against William
III., possibly because he was ignorant of the difficulties the king
had to contend against — difficulties that Burnet in his history un-
consciously shows might well have baffled even a more courageous
spirit tlian the Prince of Orange. Mathieson's testimony had been
seen by Lord Macaulay, who calls it one of the most curious of the
many curious papers written by the Covenanters of that period ; but
he makes the most of its intemperate language against King William,
and forgets that such language was a characteristic of the age. The
first part of his testimony, in which he records his sufferings, is not
widiout its interest, and no doubt might be parallelled by the ex-
perience of many of the sufferers of that time. He says :

" I am a poor man, and seemingly about to step out of this vale
of misery ; and I may say with old Jacob, * The days of the years of
my life have been few and evil, and have not attained unto the days
of the years of the life of my fathers in their pilgrimage ' (Gen.
xlvii. 9).

" As to my education, I was brought up with those that cared
not much for religion or the things that accompany salvation, if they
got me seen [/.<?., cared for] as to back and belly, but the Lord, who
knew well what He had to do with me, incUned my heart to better
things from my youth, and at length brought me to the knowledge of
His way, by converse with some good neighbours, such as Thomas
Corsbie, etc. So, being married, 1 left oft" hearing the curates, and
withdrew from them, which afterwards brought on my persecution ;
but not being fixed and stable — as the generality of the country was
— in bearing testimony against the then defections ; until I became
acquainted with some of these who were declared rebels, and then
I was [i.e., got] to understand matters better, and be as they were in
judgment and practice. But this I observed, that I never went out
of His way (though I then did it ignorantly), but I met \vith chastise-
ment of one sort or other from the Lord to bring me back again to Him.

" And when it pleased His holy majesty to bring me to a wander-
ing and suffering lot for Him, wonderful was His loving kindness
unto me, and strange were the warnings He gave me at several times
before I was apprehended, which I forbear to relate. But at length,
being apprehended on the Lord's day at my own house by a party of
the bloody dragoons whom Closebum had sent for by Doeg John
Kilpatrick in Bredgeburgh Head, I was, by his command, sent to

A List of the Bafdshed. 527

prison in Dumfries, where, after continuing for a season, I was carried
from that to Edinburgh with some others, and there sentenced, by a
party of the bloody Council, to Carolina, in America.

" When I was on the sea, and there, or in my way going, which
was nineteen weeks from our entering into the ship until we set our
foot on shore and came to land again, I endured a sore fight of
affliction from the enemy of my salvation, but the Lord helped me to
resist that evil one. . . . We suffered great straits while on ship-
board, and on shore also, by him and his who carried us captives to
that land, yet the Lord was with me and was exceeding kind to me
in that strange land. Their cruelty to us was because we would not
consent to our own selling or slavery ; for then we were miserably
beaten, and I especially received nine great blows upon my back
very sore, by one of his sea-fellows, so that for some days I could not
lift my head higher nor my breast ; which strokes or blows I looked
upon to be the beginning of all my bodily pains and diseases that
have been upon me since that time until now.

" But soon after, by a remarkable providence, getting free from
these bloody butchers, from Carolina we sailed to Virginia, in which
voyage we suftered a long and dangerous storm, and great hunger.
From Virginia we went into Pennsylvania, where I was near unto
death by a great weighty sickness. From Pennsylvania we went to
East Jersey, where we met with the rest of our banished brethren ;
and from thence we went into New England. But being sorely grieved
with the miscarriages of some of our friends there, I left New
England, and returned to East Jersey, whereafter soon I fell sick ;
and during which sickness I was kindly entertained and taken care
of by the man and his wife in whose house I lay, and with whom I
had bound myself For, albeit we had escaped from them that had
brought us over, and could not work to thera, yet we behoved to
work for something to bring us back again. From thence I came to
New York on my journey homeward, where I agreed with a ship-
master to bring me to London.

" During my abode or being in that strange land, the Lord helped
me twice or thrice to covenant with Him, but on these terms, that
He would carry me and my burden both, and save His noble truth
from being wronged by me ; still confessing and acknowledging unto
Him that I could keep neither word nor writ unless He kept me and
it both. And so, on His own terms, I took Him for my king, priest,
and prophet. After my first covenanting with Him in these lands, I

528 A Cloud of Witnesses.

wan [/>., got] to such a clearness of my interest and salvation, that
the very thoughts of it made me often to leap for joy in the midst of
all my sorrows, sore travail, and labour, I had in these lands. And
when alone, which was often, I was readily best in my case, for I was
grieved with the vain and wicked conversation of the inhabitants of
the land. And, now, what shall I say to the commendation of my
kind Lord and Master Christ? For many and wonderful were His
loving kindnesses unto me in all my travels in that land, even to me,
one of the silliest \i.e., frailest] things that ever He sent such an
errand ; so that, as it passes my memory to relate, I think truly, it
would seem incredible to many to believe when they heard them
told, even what He hath done for poor insignificant unworthy me,
during my abode in these lands ; which, betwixt being taken from
my own house, and my returning home, was something more than
three years.

" But for all that, my heart was still at home with the poor suffer-
ing remnant in Scotland. For though fire and sword had been in
one end of it, I could have been content to have been in the other
end of it. So, from New York coming to London, and from thence
soon after I arrived in Scotland. So then at length being safe there,
and restored to my friends and relations, I clave to and joined with
that party after whom while in my banishment I had so great a desire,
and continued with them all alongst, hearing with much delight the
Gospel then faithfully preached, yea, powerfully preached as occasion
offered, by that shining light Mr James Renwick."

Dr Simpson, in his " Gleanings among the Mountains," tells a
touching story of his reception in his own house on his return home.
When he entered the house, his wife was busy preparing dinner for
the reapers. She did not recognise him, but took him for a traveller,
who had come in to rest himself. She pressed him to take some
refreshment, which he did, when she went out to the field with a
portion for the reapers. As she went out, he rose, and followed her
at a respectful distance. She turned round, and fancying he had not
been satisfied with her hospitality, said to the bystanders, " The man
wants a second dinner." The words drew the eyes of the reapers
on him, when one of his sons whispers to his mother, " If my father
be alive, it is him." She turned round, looked into the stranger's face
for a moment, and then ran to his embrace, crying out, " My hus-
band!" John Mathieson died October i, 1709. His remains lie
in the churchyard of Closeburn. — Ed.]

A List of the Bayiished. 529

HEREAFTER were taken away in banishment, by one Robert
Maloch, fourteen men, whose names are not recorded.
[Wodrow's notice is equally short : " And August 15, about
fifteen more are ordered to the same place." — Ed.]

NNO 1685. In the time of Queensberry's Parliament, of
men and women were sent to Jamaica two hundred.

[Among these prisoners was Gilbert Milroy of Kirkala
in Penninghame parish, who survived the Revolution, and returned
home, and was in 17 10, says Wodrow, a very useful member of the
session of Kirkcowan. He wrote an account of his sufterings. He
and his brother William had doubts about abjuring the Societies'
Declaration, and so had kept from home out of the way of the soldiers.
The soldiers came and plundered their house, and carried away eighty
black cattle and about five hundred sheep, besides household stuff.
Next day the brothers were brought to MinnigafF, and, not answering
the usual questions to satisfaction, were sent on to Edinburgh, where
they were imprisoned in Holyrood, as the ordinary prisons were full.
When brought before the judges, they refused to take the oaths, and
were sentenced to have their ears cut off" and to be banished for ten
years. A few days after sentence, the prisoners were taken out
and tied six and six of them together, and marched to Newhaven,
such as were not able to walk being conveyed in carts, and put on
board a ship lying there, and thrust under deck two and two of them
together to the number of an hundred and thirty. In this state they
were kept during the voyage, and so great were their sufferings
through insufficient food, a scanty supply of water, and want of fresh
air, that when they arrived at Jamaica, after a passage of three
months and three days, thirty-two had died on the way. They were
landed at Port Royal, and kept in prison ten days, until they were
sold as slaves. The proceeds of their sale were kept for Sir Philip
Howard, an Englishman, who had received a gift of them from the king.
Sir Philip, however, did not live to enjoy it, for when leaving London
for Port Royal, he fell between two ships and was drowned. — Ed.]

HE same year, one Pitlochie transported to New Jersey one
hundred, whereof twenty-four were women.

[In 1685 there are several acts of Council banishing
prisoners, and handing them over to John Scot, laird of Pitlochie.

530 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Under March lo, he received a warrant to go to the prisons of
Edinburgh, Glasgow, and StirHng, and transport a hundred of the
prisoners to the plantations. He seems also to have gone to
Dunottar, and to have got about thirty there, among others Patrick
Walker, the well known writer of " Remarkable Passages in the
Lifes of Peden, Cameron, Cargill, etc ;" but he escaped while they
were waiting at Leith. The ship sailed September 5. She had
scarcely turned the Land's End, when fever broke out, especially
among those who had been confined for so many months in the
dark vault at Dunottar. The beef became putrid ; the ship twice
sprang a leak ; and so deadly was the voyage, which lasted for
fifteen weeks, that their numbers were about seventy less when
they arrived at New Jersey (whither the wind drove them rather
than to Jamaica, where the captain had proposed to take them) —
Pitlochie himself and his wife being among the dead. On landing,
the prisoners seem to have been left at large, and the inhabitants
of a town, not named, a little way up the country, hearing of their
circumstances, invited all who were able to travel to come and live
with them, and sent horses for such as were not, and entertained
them that winter freely and with much kindness. In spring Pit-
lochie's son-in-law sought to claim them as his property, and sued
them before the court of the province. The governor sent the
case before a jury, who found that the accused had not of their
own accord come to the ship, and had not bargained with Pitlochie
for money or service, and therefore, according to the laws of the
country, they were free. Most of the prisoners retired to New
England, where they were very kindly entertained. " So," concludes
VVodrow, " Pitlochie proposed to be enriched by the prisoners, and
yet he and his lady died at sea on the voyage. He sold what re-
mained of the estate to pay the freight, and much of the money
remaining was spent upon the law-suit in New Jersey. Thus it
appears to be but a* hazardous venture to make merchandise of the
suffering people of God." — Ed.]

i]N the same year thirteen more were sent to Barbadoes.
Their names are not in the hands of the publishers, if they
be at all recorded.
[Wodrow does not mention this exact number, but under Novem-
ber 26, 1685, he gives an extract from the Council registers, which
sentences David Paterson in Eaglesham, William Freugh theie,

A List of the Banished. 531

James Rae, Uddingston, and John Park, weaver in Lanark, for
Conventicles and refusing the Oath of Allegiance, to be banished ;
and under December 9, 1685, eleven more receive the same sen-
tence.— Ed.]

NNO 1687 [1685], three-and-twenty men and women were
sent to Barbadoes, whose names that subscribed the Joint
Testimony are as follows : John Ford, Walter M'Min, Adam
Hood, John M'Gie, Peter Russel, Thomas Jackson, Charles Dougal,
James Grierson, John Harvie, James Forsyth, George Johnson, John
Steven, Robert Young, John Gilfillan, Andrew Paterson, John
Kincaid, Robert Main, James Muirhead, George Muir, John Hender-
son, Anaple Jackson, Anaple Gordon, Jean Moffat.

[1687 is here, from the place in which the paragraph stands,
evidently a misprint for 1685. The compilers do not seem to
have known that these were part of the banished given to Pitlochie.
The substance of the joint testimony, with the names here given,
and five others, occurs in Wodrow, and is dated from Leith Roads.
August 28, 1685, while the ship was lying there waiting orders to
sail. — Ed.]

NNO 1686 [1687], March 30, were banished to Barbadoes,
John Stewart, James Douglas, John Russel, James Hamil-
ton, William Hannay, George White, Gilbert MacCulloch,
Thomas Brown, John Brown, William Hay, John Wright, John
Richard, Alexander Bailie, Marion Weir, Bessie Weir, Isabel Steel,
Isabel Cassils, Agnes Keir.

[In Wodrow the same names and three others occur under 1687.
He says, " April this year I find that sixteen men and five women
were banished to America, and gifted to Captain Fairn, who carried
them away in Captain Croft's ship, then lying at Leith. Their
testimony they jointly signed lies before me, and therein they
signify the reason of their sentence was, because they would not
acknowledge the present authority to be according to the Word of
God, nor disown the Sanquhar Declaration, nor engage not to hear
Mr James Renwick, and conclude with leaving their testimony
against the evils of the times, and sign thus." Then follow their
names. — Ed.]

A List of those K.illed in the Fields.

SHORT ACCOUNT of those who were killed in the open
fields without trial, conviction, or any process of law, by
the executioners of the Council's murdering Edict whose
names are here specified. [The Council's murdering Edict was
passed November 22, 1684. It was, "The Lords of his majesty's
Privy Council do hereby ordain any person who owns, or will not
disov.n the late treasonable declaration [i.e., the Apologetic Declara-
tion] upon oath, whether they have arms or not, to be immediately
put to death, this being always done in presence of two witnesses,
and the person or persons having commission from the Council for
that effect." The Short Memorial, etc., drawn up by Alexander
Shields, the author of the " Hind Let Loose," and quoted from in
this Short Account, is a quarto of 56 closely-printed pages. It is a
calm and able statement of the unlawful and tyrannical character of
the administration of the governments of Charles II. and James VII.
The pages here quoted form the much smaller part of the memorial
— that occupied with a " short recapitulation in bulk of some in-
stances of our several kinds of sufferings, with a touch at some of the
most principal instruments thereof in the five western shires." — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

O give an account of the many hundreds, who either
died or contracted their deaths in prison, by the
severities they met with of cold, hunger, thirst, want
of room and air, fetters, tortures, stigmatising [i.e.,
branding with a hot iron], whipping, etc., would be a
work of immense labour ; nor can any full account
thereof be had, considering the vast numbers of such,
and the neglect of writing memoirs of these things,
or their being seized by the persecutors, who were industrious to

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 533

suppress such accounts of their own villainies from the view of
posterity. The number of such as suffered under colour of law,
and judicial trial, from Mr James Guthrie the first, to Mr James
Renvvick the last, has been computed to amount to about one
hundred and forty. But the councillors, willing to ease themselves
of that lingering way of doing business, not content with Popery's
gradual advancement, were for doing their work all at once ; and
accordingly authorised captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and single
soldiers to shoot all suspected persons, wherever they could catch
them, without further trial of their pretended crimes ; and accord-
ingly, betwixt the year 1682 and 1688, when a revolution of affairs
put a stop to their career and bloodshed, there were murdered in the
open fields the following persons, besides others that no certain list
has been got of, as they are enumerated in a print, entitled, " A
Short Memorial of the Suffering and Grievances of the Presbyterians
in Scotland, particularly of those of them called by nickname
Cameronians," printed in the year 1690. Which is as follows:

OHN GRAHAM of Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee, in
the year 1682, with a party of his troops, pursued William
Graham, in the parish of [Kells], in Galloway, making his
escape from his mother's house, and overtaking him, instantly shot him
dead. [There is no account of this martyr either in Wodrow or Crook-
shanks. His remains lie in the churchyard of Crossmichael. — Ed.]

liE said Claverhouse, together with the Earl of Dumbarton,
and Lieutenant-General Douglas, caused Peter Gillies, John
Bryce, Thomas Young (who was taken by the Laird of Lee),
William Fiddieson, and John Bruning, to be put to death upon a
gibbet, without legal trial or sentence, suffering them neither to have
a Bible, nor to pray before they died, at MauchHne, 1685.

[Peter Gillies was a bleacher in Stirling. In 1674, a Presbyterian
minister preached in his house. Tidings of the sermon came to the
curate, and the result was that Gillies was turned out of his house,
and stripped nearly of his all. In 1685, when in Muiravonside, the
curate, displeased at his nonconformity, informed against him, and
got a party of Highland soldiers, just arrived at Falkirk, sent to ap-
prehend him, which they did April 30th. John Bryce, a weaver in
West Calder parish, who had come to get some cloth, was taken with
him. Peter Gillies' wife had given birth to a child a few days previous.

534 ^ Cloud oj Witnesses.

In her presence, nevertheless, they threatened him \vith immediate
death, and hurried him away without allowing him to speak to her or
change his clothes. In less than an hour after, some of the soldiers
came back to her with a story of their own, saying that her husband
had signified she knew where his arms lay, and that if she gave them
up his life would be spared, and if not he would be shot. She calmly
replied that he had no arms she knew of, and if they got liberty to take
his life she would endeavour to say. Good is the will of the Lord,
and He who did all things well could not wrong her or hers. At
this the soldiers flew in a passion, swore and threatened to burn her
where she lay. They plundered the house of all they could carry
away. Meanwhile the two prisoners had been tied together, and
driven by the soldiers before them. When they had got a few miles
on the road they blindfolded Peter Gillies, and set him on his knees
as if to be shot, with a file of musketeers before him, and kept him
in this position for half-an-hour, and then took him with them to the
west country whither they were marching. As they passed through
Carluke they seized WiUiam Fiddieson and Thomas Young. " All
four, says Patrick Walker, were my very dear acquaintance."

On May 4th they were at Middle Wellwood, two miles west of
Muirkirk. Here, says Wodrow, " Peter Gillies writes a letter to his
wife full of affection and seriousness, and leaves her and five children
on the Lord, with much holy confidence, and desires her to speak to
some of his relations, and reprove them for their faults, which he
heartily forgives them."

After reading some of the Scripture, for which the soldiers
abused and threatened him, he wanted not impressions that he
was to die, and would shortly be beyond the reach of enemies.
That day they were taken to Mauchline, and next day they were
examined by Lieutenant-General Drummond, Master-General of the
Ordnance, and a jury called of fifteen soldiers, and an indictment
given them, which Wodrow has preserved. As might be expected,
they were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged at the town end
of Mauchline next day. May 6th. No cofiins were allowed them,
nor dead clothes, but the soldiers and two country people made a
hole and flung them together into it. Such is the substance of
Wodrow's account of them. It differs somewhat from that in the
text, but the difference is seeming rather than real. A trial before a
jury of fifteen soldiers, and following immediately on the indictment
being put into their hands, was not a legal trial. Lieutenant-General

A List of those Kitted in the Fietds. 535

Douglas is not mentioned by VVodrow, but Mauchline was at that
time his head-quarters. — Ed.]

HE said Claverhouse coming to Galloway, in answer to the
Viscount of Kenmure's letter, with a small party surprised
Robert Stuart, John Grier, Robert Ferguson and James
M'Michael, and instantly shot them dead at the water of Dee in
Galloway, December 1684. Their corpses being buried, were at his
command raised again.

[Claverhouse came upon them at Auchincloy. There were eight
of them altogether, two of whom made their escape. The six were
Robert Smart and John Grier from Galloway, Robert Ferguson and
James M'Michael from Penpont, Robert Smith from Glencairn,
Robert Hunter. The six had no other resource but to stand on the
defensive. All were soon overpowered except James M'Michael,
who fought single-handed with Claverhouse, until Claverhouse had
to cry for assistance, when, according to tradition, M'Michael said to
him, " You dare not abide the issue of a single combat ! Had your
helmet been like mine, a soft bonnet, your carcass had ere this found
its bed on the heath." A dragoon came to Claverhouse's relief, and
coming up behind M'Michael split his skull in two. Friends buried
M'Michael's body, but Claverhouse, when he heard of the burial,
ordered the corpse to be taken out of the grave and hung on a tree.
M'Michael had been at Airsmoss and the rescue at Enterkin. It
was he that, supposing his friends to be in danger, shot Peter Pearson,
curate at Carsphairn. For this deed he had been expelled from the
fellowship of the Societies. After James M'Michael was killed,
Robert Ferguson, Robert Stuart, John Grier, who had been over-
powered, were shot. Robert Smith and Robert Hunter, Claverhouse
carried to Kirkcudbright, and went through a form of trial with them.
They were speedily condemned, when they were not permitted to
write a line, not even a letter to their relations. When brought to
the gibbet, and they began to speak to the people, the drums were
beat to prevent them being heard. After they were hanged they
were beheaded. — Ed.]

HE said Claverhouse in May 1685, apprehended John Bro^vn
in Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, in the shire of Ayr,
being at his work about his own house, and shot him dead
before his own door in presence of his wife.

53^ A Cloud of Witnesses.

[John Brown of Priesthill was known in the district as the
Christian carrier. He was of more than ordinary piety and knowledge,
and possessed unusual skill in communicating to others what he
knew. He had never attended the services of the curates, but in
other respect had given no offence to the government, yet he found
it prudent to hide in the moorlands. His long exemption from
molestation had evidently emboldened him to return home, when he
speedily fell into the hands of the destroyer.

On the morning of the first of May 1685, between five and six
o'clock, after he had made worship with his family, he was on the
way to cut peats with his spade in his hand, when in the thick mist
he was surrounded by Claverhouse and three troops of dragoons on
the road from Lesmahagow. Whether Claverhouse had any know-
ledge of his character is not known, but he brought him from the
peat ground to his house, a bleak, desolate spot, fully four miles to
the north of Muirkirk railway station, and from which at the present
time, not a hut, not even a tree is to be seen. Here he was examined,
and gave his answers distinctly and solidly, which made Claverhouse
ask his guides through the muir if ever they heard him preach. " No,
no," was the reply, " he was never a preacher." " Well," said Claver-
house, "if he has never preached, much has he prayed in his
time. Go to your prayers," he added to John Brown, " for you shall
immediately die."

The carrier prayed with great fervour. Thrice Claverhouse
interrupted him. On one of these times John Brown was pleading
that the Lord would spare a remnant and not make a full end in the
day of His anger, when Claverhouse said, " I gave you time to pray,
and you are begun to preach." John Brown calmly turned round
about on his knees, and said, " Sir, you know neither the nature of
preaching nor praying that call this preaching;" and then continued
without confusion.

When he was ended, Claverhouse said, " Take good-night of your
wife and children," for she stood by with a child of his former wife
clinging to her, one of her own in her arms, and was soon to give birth
to another. " Now, Isabel," were his words to her, " the day is come
that I told you would come, when I spake first to you of marrying
me." " Indeed, John," she replied, " I can willingly part with you."
'* That is all," he said, " I desire. I have no more to do but die. I
have been ready to meet with death for years past." He kissed
her and his children. He gave them his blessing, and wished

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 537

purchased and promised blessings to be multiplied upon them.
Claverhouse now ordered six of his soldiers to fire on him ; but such
had been the effect of the martyr's prayers, that not even one of these
men, long used to deeds of violence, would obey his command, and
in a rage he shot him mth his own hand.

"What thinkest thou of thy husband now, woman?" was his
question to the widow, as she gazed on the lifeless body. " I thought
ever much good of him, and as much now as ever." "It were but
justice," was his reply, " to lay thee beside him." " If ye were
permitted," was her heroic answer, " I doubt not your cruelty would
go that length; but how will ye answer for this morning's work?"
"To man," the murderer replied, "I can be answerable; and as for
God, I'll take Him into mine own hand." But this was empty
bravado, for even on his seared conscience the dying words of his
victim left an impression that he could never wear off.— Ed.]

Pil^HE said Claverhouse authorised his troops to kill Matthew

Mickelwrath without any examination, in the parish of Col-
monell in Carrick, anno 1685.

OLONEL JAMES DOUGLAS, now Lieutenant - General,
brother to the Duke of Queensberry, together \A\h Lieu-
tenant John Livingstone and a party with them, surprised
five men in a cave at Ingliston, in the parish of Glencairn, betrayed
by Andrew Watson Their names were John Gibson [brother to
James Gibson of Ingliston, heritor of the ground], Robert Grierson
[from Galloway], Robert Mitchell [from Cumnock], James Bennoch
[from Glencairn], John Edgar [Robert Edgar , he fled from his house
for refusing the abjuration oath] — all which were at the command
of the said Colonel Douglas brought forth and immediately shot
dead, without giving them so much time as to recommend their
souls unto God. One John Ferguson, sometime a professed friend,
thrust one of them through, supposing he was not dead. This was
done in the year 1685.

[Wodrow's account of this murder is taken from a narrative
written at the time. He says, directed by Watson, Colonel James
Douglas and Lieutenant Livingstone came suddenly on the cave and
surprised the five in it. The soldiers shot in on the cave, wounded
one, and then rushed in. Without any examination, or the slightest
form of trial, Colonel Douglas immediately ordered them to be taken

538 A Cloud of Witnesses.

out and shot, though nothing could be laid to their charge but that
they were found in the cave. John Gibson was first shot. He was
suffered to pray, which he did to the admiration and conviction even
of the soldiers themselves. He sang part of Ps. xvii., and read
John xvi. His sister got forward to him by the compassion of some
of the soldiers. He told her this was the joyfuUest day ever he had
in the world. His mother, too, managed to get to him, and he
charged her not to give way to grief, but to bless the Lord upon his
account, who had made him both willing and ready to suffer for His
cause and interest. After again praying, he was despatched. The
other four were shot all at once without being permitted to pray
separately. They had great peace and consolation. The volley
killed three of their number, while one was sorely wounded but
conscious. When this was observed by Ferguson, a renegade, he drew
his sword and thrust him through the body. When the martyr was
weltering in his blood and that of his fellow-sufferers for Christ, he
said, " Though every hair of my head were a man, I am willing to die all
those deaths for Christ and His cause," and with these words he died.
The inscriptions over the graves of John Gibson, Robert Mitchell,
James Bennoch, and Robert Edgar, are in the Appendix. — Ed.]

■

HE said Colonel James Douglas and his party shot to death
John Hunter, for no alleged cause, but running out from the
house of Corehead (in the parish of Moffat) the same year,
1685.

[John Hunter was a native of the parish of Tweedsmuir, in the
south of Peeblesshire. He had a neighbour, Welsh by name, usually
called, however, in the district, " The Babe of Tweedhopefoot,"
probably from his great bodily strength. Welsh had often sheltered
the persecuted, and had himself suffered much because of his sym-
pathy with them. He heard that Colonel James Douglas was in
the neighbourhood ; and, expecting a visit from him, he determined
to withdraw to the wilds for concealment. John Hunter, a good
man, of like mind with him, accompanied him. They retired to
Corehead, near the source of the water of Annan. Colonel James
Douglas got notice of their flight, and pursued them with his soldiers.
He soon gained ground on them. When they saw they were being
overtaken, they made for the " Straught Steep," which, from its inac-
cessibility to cavalry, they hoped would give them a safe retreat.
But as they were reaching it, the dragoons began to fire, and a ball

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 539

struck John Hunter, as he was scrambUng over the rocks, and he was
shot dead. His remains vvere laid in the churchyard of Tweedsmuir.
The inscription over them is in the Appendix. — Ed.]

HE said Colonel or Lieutenant-General James Douglas, with
Lieutenant Livingstone and Cornet Douglas, surprised six
men at prayer at the Caldunes, in the parish of Minniegaff
— viz., James Dun, Robert Dun, Andrew Macaulay, Thomas Steven-
son, John M'Clude, and John Stevenson, in January 1685.

[" Nothing," says Wodrow, " was charged upon them but that
they were persons hiding, and at prayer. Whether the Oath of
Abjuration was offered or not, my information doth not bear ; but
without any further process, they were immediately taken out, and
shot to death." — Ed. J

HE said Colonel or Lieutenant-General James Douglas caused
take Andrew M'Quhan out of his bed, sick of a fever, and
carry him to Newton of Galloway, and the next day shot
him dead, the foresaid year 1685.

[M'Quhan was unable to answer the questions put to him by
Colonel James Douglas, and so the soldiers took him, ill as he was,
out of bed, carried him with them to the Newton, and next morning
(May II, 1685), shot him dead, without process or trial. — Ed.]

HE said Colone, or Lieutenant-General James Douglas com-
manded Thomas Richard, an old man of seventy years, to
be shot in time of prayer (he was betrayed and taken by
Peter Liglis), Anno, 1685, at Cumnock, in Kyle.

[Thomas Richard was a farmer in Greenock Mains, a farm to the
west of Muirkirk parish, Ayrshire. Wodrow calls him a good man,
near eighty years of age. He had been in hiding in the high moor-
lands, to the north of the parish, where it touches Lanarkshire, when
Peter Inglis, a cornet, and son to Captain Inglis, of evil notoriety
for his cruelties, and four or five others, came to him in his hiding-
place, in the guise of friends. They had each Bibles, and asked
Thomas to read and pray with them. The good man, suspecting no
deceit, readily complied with their request. After prayer, they talked
with him about an attack they proposed to make on a neighbouring
garrison. They asked him if he knew where any of the honest party
were. Still fearing no guile, he told them he knew not of any at pre

540 ^i Cloud of IVilnesses.

sent, but that he had lodged some of them a few days ago, and was
not unwilUng to give them any entertainment he had. At last one
of them betrayed himself by an oath, when all threw off the mask,
and, to the astonishment of the old man, made him their prisoner,
and carried him to Colonel Douglas, then at Cumnock, who, on
this confession, without trial of any kind, next day ordered him to
be shot. — Ed.]

APTAIN DOUGLAS finding one Mowat, a tailor,

merely because he had some pieces of lead belonging to
his trade, took him, and without any further trial, shot him
dead, between Fleet and Dee, in Galloway.

HE said Captain Douglas and his men, finding one

Auchenleck, a deaf man, for not making answer, through
defect of his hearing, instantly shot him dead off horseback,

near Carlinwark, anno 1685.

IR ROBERT DALZIEL, and Lieutenant Straiton, having
apprehended Daniel M'Michael, not able to flee, by reason
of his being sick, and detained him four hours prisoner,
took him out, and shot him at Dalveen, in the parish of Durrisdeer,
in Nithsdale, January 1685.

[Daniel M'Michael was the brother of James M'Michael. He
lived in Lurgfoot, now Blairfoot, in Morton parish, Dumfriesshire,
and his house was a well-known resort of the pious people in the
neighbourhood. In July 1685 he was confined, to bed with fever.
Some of his friends had met in his house for religious exercises,
and they had stationed a watchman, to give notice in case of
danger. It was not long until he saw a party of soldiers, in the
distance, approaching. They had been told by an informer of the
meeting. The watchman immediately gave the alarm, when all pre-
pared for flight. Ill as he was, Daniel was not forgotten, for they
knew his illness would not ward off from him the cruelties of the
soldiers. They wrapped liim in the warm bed-clothes, and conveyed
him to a cave, not far from his house, where he and his friends had
often concealed themselves. They were not long there until one of
their number left tlie cave. On the way, he called at the smithy,
where he learned the hiding-place had been betrayed. He hastened
back, and told tliem the cave was known to their enemies, who

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 541

would soon be there. It was at once resolved to leave. The better
to baffle the soldiers, they separated into two parties, one going in the
direction of Durrisdeer, and the other to Kirkhope. But the soldiers
also divided, and gained on the party in which Daniel M'Michael was.
At his earnest request, they hid him in a cave, concealed under the
brow of a mountain-stream. Here, however, the dogs that accom-
panied the soldiers scented him out, and he was dragged from his
retreat, and carried to Durrisdeer.

Many questions were put to him, which he declined to answer,
and many things were laid to his charge, which he denied, and said
he knew nothing of. At length he was told that unless he took the
oath, in token of recognition of the government in Church and State,
he must die. " Sir," he replied, " that is what, in all things, 1 can-
not do ; but very cheerfully I submit to the L,ord's disposal as to my
life." " Do you not know," said the commander, " your life is in my
hand?" "No, sir," he rejoined, "I know my life is in the Lord's
hand ; and if He see good, He can make you the instrument to take
it away." He was then ordered to prepare for death next day. "If
my life," he repHed, "must go for His cause, I am willing ; my God
will prepare me." " That night," says Wodrow, " he enjoyed a sweet
time of communion and fellowship with God, and great outlets of joy
and consolation ; so that some of the soldiers desired to die his
death, and not a few convictions were left in their bosoms."

The soldiers had determined to take him north next day to Craw-
ford, where their main body was stationed, but his feeble state com-
pelled them to halt on the way, at the entrance to Dalveen Pass,
where they ordered him to prepare for death. They gave him liberty
to pray, which he did to the wonder of the bystanders. He sang
part of Psalm xHi., and read John xvi., and spoke, "with much
gravity and solidity," to Captain Dalziel. After the napkin had been
put over his face, he said, " Lord, Thou broughtest Daniel through
many straits, and hast brought me. Thy servant, hither, to witness for
Thee and Thy cause. Into Thy hands I commit my spirit, and
hope to praise Thee through all eternity." He then gave the sign
to the soldiers, when the four appointed fired, and he fell dead. A
monument marks the place where he fell. His remains rest in Durris-
deer churchyard. The inscription over them is in the Appendix.—
Ed.J

542 A Cloud of Witnesses.

HE said Captain Dalziel and Lieutenant Straiton, with their
men, found William Adam hiding in a bush, and instantly
killed him, at the Welhvood, parish of Muirkirk, in Kyle,
February 1685.

[Wodrow says there was no charge against him ; but that he was
thrashing, and seeing Sir Robert Dalziel's dragoons approaching, and
fearing lest they should come upon him in the barn, and put the
usual questions to him, he went out at the back, and hid himself in
a marshy piece of ground, among some bushes. The soldiers saw
him running away, and searched for him, and when they found him,
instantly killed him. The place where his body lies is quite in keeping
with this account. It is a sequestered spot, by the side of a brook —
the Proscribe Burn — and the ground rising up from it is besprinkled
with clumps of reeds. Dr Simpson, in his " Gleanings among the
Mountains," gives a much more romantic version, although by no
means irreconcilable with that by the historian, of the story of his
death. He was about to be married to a pious young woman, and
he had appointed a meeting with her by the brook. He was first
there, and profitably to spend the time till she came, he took out his
Bible, and began to read. He had not read long till his eye caught
the dragoons close upon him. He started to his feet. They imme-
diately rode up to him, and shot him dead on the spot. Meanwhile
his betrothed was hastening to the meeting-place, and heard the
sound of firearms from the direction whither she was going. The
tradition says, she feared the worst, and her fears seemed justified as
she saw the horsemen coming. She met the horsemen as she was
passing along a wooden bridge over the river Ayr, while they were
crossing the same stream. One of the dragoons, riding close by the
side of the bridge, drew his sword, and struck her with its broadside,
as if he would push her into the water. Embittered in spirit, and her
courage roused, it was the work of a moment to wrap her apron
round her hand, to seize the sword by the blade, wrench it out of the
soldier's hand, snap it in two, and fling the pieces into the water.
This done, she ran to the meeting-place, to find her William lying
dead on the ground. — Ed.]

APTAIN BRUCE, captain of dragoons, apprehended James
Kirko (of the parish of Keir), at the intelligence of one
James Wright, carried him to Dumfries, detained him pri-
soner one night, next day (May 13. 1685) brought him forth to the

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 543

water sands, and, without process, shot him dead. The dying man de-
sired a little time to make his peace with God ; the captain answered,
oftener than once or twice, " No, no ; no more time, devil peace ye
get more made up." Some gentlewomen coming to beg his life, were
hindered by one John Craik, of Stewarton. The foresaid Dalziel's
second son was one of them that shot him, though without command.
[Wodrow adds, he calmly replied, " Sir, you mistake it ; you
cannot mar my peace with God." At this the captain raged, and
cried to the soldiers, " Dogs, make ready," and so they shot him
dead, without giving him time to pray. The inscription on the
monument over his remains is in the Appendix. — Ed.]

HE said Captain Bruce surprised at Lochenkit, in the parish
of Kirkpatrick [Durham], in Galloway, six men, and in-
stantly killed dead four of them, viz., John Gordon, William
Stewart, William Heron, and John Wallace, and carried the other
two, Edward Gordon and Alexander M'Cubin, of Glencairn, pri-
soners, and the next day, he and monstrous [Sir Robert Grierson of]
Lagg, without any trial, caused hang them upon a growing tree, near
the Kirk of Irongray, and left them there hanging, 19th Febmary 1685.
[William Heron and Alexander M'Cubin were from Glencairn,
the other four were from Galloway. William Heron, John Gordon,
William Stuart, and John Wallace, lie buried where they were shot in
Lochenkit Muir. A monument marks the spot. The inscription is
in the Appendix. Alexander M'Cubin and Edward Gordon were
next day taken to Irongray. The oak tree on which they were
hanged is one of a clump, and all grow out of what is evidently a
cairn. When they were brought to the tree foot, a friend of Alex-
ander M'Cubin asked him if he had any word to send to his wife.
" I leave her," he replied, " and the two babes upon the Lord, and
to His promise ; a Father to the fatherless, and Husband to the
widow, is the Lord in His holy habitation." When the hangman
asked forgiveness, he said, " Poor man, I forgive thee and all men ;
thou hast a miserable calling upon earth." They both died, says
Wodrow, in much composure and cheerfulness. — Ed.]

HE said Captain Bruce and his men took out of his bed
Thomas M'Haffie, sick of a fever, and shot him instantly,
in the parish of Straiton, in Carrick, January 1685.
[Thomas M'Haffie is described by Wodrow as son to John

544 ^ Cloud of Wit7iesses.

M'Hafifie, in the Largs, in the parish of Straiten, Ayrshire. He was
well-known in the district for his piety. Dr Simpson tells of an
escape he made from the soldiers when on his way to a meeting near
Maybole. On the morning on which he was shot, he was concealed
in a glen on the farm of Linfairn, about three miles to the south of
the village of Straiton. He was then ill of fever, caught from
exposure in the damp caves in which he had been forced to hide
himself from his enemies. In this condition he heard the approach
of the soldiers, when he rose from his hiding-place and fled. He
reached the house of a friend, but so exhausted that he at once
threw himself upon a bed. Captain Bruce and his soldiers speedily
reached the house, and made him their prisoner. He was examined
in the usual manner, but he declined to answer their questions.
The abjuration oath was offered him, which he declined. Bruce then
ordered his soldiers to drag him from the bed, which they imme-
diately did, and took him out to the high road, and without any
further process, shot him dead. A stone on the farm of Linfairn
marks the spot where he fell. His remains are in the churchyard of
Straiton. The inscription on the monument over them is in the
Appendix.— Ed.]

AMES DOUGLAS, cornet of dragoons, commanded to shoot
John Semple, essaying to escape out of a window, in the
parish of Dailly, anno 1685. Kilkerran shot him.

[Wodrow gives an account of the murder of John Semple, which
he says has been attested by several honest people yet in the parish
of Dailly, from their particular knowledge of all its circumstances.
It is of touching simplicity. John Semple was a person who lived
a very quiet and innocent life with his wife, and three or four
children. He never carried arms, nor gave the least disturbance to
the government, only from a principle of conscience he came not to
the church to hear the Episcopal ministers ; and being given to
hospitaUty, and of a compassionate temper, he did sometimes har-
bour those poor people who were then hunted for their lives.

Upon these accounts, April this year 1685, Alexander Fergusson,
of Kilkerran, living at Moorston, a country house about a mile from
Eldington, went to Blawhan garrison, commanded by Dundas, and
informed against John Semple. The commander detached a party
about sunset, Alexander Fergusson being their guide, who conducted
them first to his own house at Moorston, where they supped. About

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 54.-;

midnight, when they reckoned he would be at home, and all ready for
their purpose, they came straight towards Eldington, and surrounded
the house. John Semple hearing the sound of their feet, and whis-
pering about the house, dreaded what was the matter, and having a
right thought of their design, considered with himself what to do in
that extremity, and at length concluded to venture his escape out at
a narrow window, which while he was endeavouring, and half out and
half in, five or six of the party espied him, and discharged their pieces
at him, and killed him dead on the spot. — Ed.]

HE said Coronet Douglas apprehended Edward Mackeen,
and by search finding a flint-stone upon him, presently shot
him, without any further trial, February 1685.
[Edward M'Keen would seem to be the same as Edward Kyan,
whose murder is narrated by Wodrow. On February 28, 1685, at
eleven o'clock at night. Lieutenant or Cornet Douglas, with twenty-
four soldiers, surrounded the house of Dalwine, having been informed
that there were whigs met together there. They apprehended a
David Martin, and finding Edward Kyan, a young man from Gallo-
way, wlio had come thence to buy corn, and who had fled in between
the gable of one house and the sidewall of another, they dragged him
out. When questioned, he gave what they reckoned unsatisfactory
answers, and as one of the soldiers was dragging him away, Lieu-
tenant Douglas, without further warning, shot him through the head,
and as he lay on the ground struggling with death, fired his other
pistol at him. Shortly after, one of the soldiers, pretending he saAv
life in him, fired a third shot at the body. After they had killed
Edward Kyan, David Martin was brought out, his coat stripped off
him, and he was set on his knees beside the mangled body. When
he was about to be shot, at the allegation of one of the soldiers that
discoveries might be got out of him, he was spared, but the poor
man, through the fear and terror he had been put to, well nigh lost his
reason, and was rendered bedfast till his death, four years after. — Ed.]

lEUTENANT- GENERAL DRUMMOND commanded,
without any process or trial, John Murchie and Daniel
Meiklewrath to be instantly shot, after they were taken at
Altercannock, in the parish of Colmonell, in Carrick, Ayrshire, anno

At the same time his soldiers did shoot dead Alexander Lin.

540 A Cloud of Witnesses.

APTAIN INGLIS and his dragoons pursued and killed
James Smith, at the burn of Anne, in Kyle, about two miles
south of Newmilns, 1684.
[Dr Simpson gives an account of the murder of a man of the
name of Smith, who appears to have been this James Smith. He
lived in the farm of Threepod, or rather Threepwood, in Galston
parish. He was a man of retired habits, and had cherished in secret
the principles of the persecuted ; but his natural timidity had kept
him back from an open avowal of his thoughts. At length he
resolved to take a decided step. He took his infant child for
baptism to a conventicle, held in the night time at a spot fourteen
miles distant. After baptism, he retraced his steps, and arrived at
his own house before daybreak. To prevent suspicion, after laying
down the child, he immediately betook himself to the barn, and
commenced to thrash com. In spite, however, of his caution, he
had been discovered, and information given to his enemies. For
safety, he sought a hiding-place in the fields, but here he was found
out, and two soldiers sent to apprehend him. On their approach,
he drew his sword in self-defence, and skilfully warded off the strokes
of his assailants. But the soldiers, finding he \vas not to be so easily
captured, tried stratagem. While the one fought with him face to
face, the other stole behind him, and threw a cloak over his head,
which at once blindfolded him, and entangled his sword arm, so that
he was easily overpowered, when the two at once put an end to his
life. He was buried where he fell. — Ed.]

ETER INGLIS, his son, killed one John Smith in Cunning-
ham, 1685.

The said Peter or Patrick Inglis also killed one James
White, struck off his head wdth an axe, brought it to Newmilns, and
played at football with it. He killed him at Litde Blackwood, the
foresaid year [May] 1685.

[Twelve men were met for prayer, a night in the beginning of
May 1685, in the house of James Paton, a wright, and tenant of
Little Blackwood, about two miles to the south-east of Fenwick, Ayr-
shire, when a noise was heard outside. They soon found they were
surrounded. James White was the only one that had a firelock. As
Patrick Inglis entered the house, after he had broken the door open,
James White pulled the trigger, but the priming burned, without the

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 547

gun going off, and its light let the soldiers see where he was, when
they fired, and he fell dead. Three of the rest escaped, but the
others were soon overpowered, and were spared through the inter-
cession of James Paton's wife, who, before her marriage, had known
Patrick Inglis, when he was quartered in her father's house. The
soldiers cut off the head of James White, and carried it to Newmilns,
where next day they played with it as a football on the green. The
eight prisoners were taken to Newmilns, and put in the prison there
— now in ruins. The next day they were brought out to be shot,
when doubts were raised by one of the soldiers as to the legality of
their proceedings, when it was resolved to send to Edinburgh for
authority from the Council. Meanwhile, during the interval, the
friends of the prisoners broke open the prison, and all escaped.
James White's remains lie in Fenwick Church. The inscription on
the monument over them is in the Appendix. — Ed.]

HE said Peter Inglis shot John Barrie, with his pass in his
hand, in Evandale, April 1685.

[John Barrie had his pass, and showed it to Peter Inglis,

but nothing would satisfy him. He would have it that he was one of
the wanderers, and so he shot him. His remains lie in Strathaven
churchyard. The inscription is in the Appendix. — Ed.]

|AJOR BALFOUR, together with Captain Maidand, and
their party, apprehended at their work, Robert Thom, John
Urie, and Thomas Cook, and instantly shot them at Pol-
madie, near Glasgow, May 1685.

[Wodrow gives an account of this murder, attested by a John
Reid and Andrew Cochran. He sent it to Captain Maitland, who
was alive when the history was being written, and he acknowledged
that the whole of the countrymen's account was true. On May nth,
1685, they were at Polmadie Mill, and they saw Major John Balfour,
Captain James Maitland, and several others, arrive. Major Balfour
asked them to whom they belonged. They said they were servants
to Sir James Hamilton's tenants, in Shawfield. They were ordered
to stand still. They saw them apprehend Thomas Cook and John
Urie, who were weavers, and were taken in their working clothes
from off their looms. Thomas Cook was first taken, and because he
did not come immediately when called. Major Balfour struck him on
<:he face with a horsewhip, so that the blood gushed out, and he

548 A Cloud of Witnesses.

could scarcely speak. He next pushed a cocked pistol into his face,
crying, " Blood and wounds ! he is a rebel." Shortly after, some
twenty foot soldiers arrived, and they ran through the houses, and
seized Robert Thorn, a labourer. When all the three were taken,
they were examined. They were asked, " Would they pray for King
James VII.?" They answered, they would pray for all within the
election of grace. " Do you," asked Balfour, " question the King's
election ? " " Sometimes," they replied, " they questioned their
own." Upon this he swore, and said they should die presently,
because they would not pray for Christ's vicegerent ; and so, without
one word more, he commanded Thomas Cook to say his prayers,
for he should die. The poor man besought Balfour to spare him.
"For how long?" he asked. "For two days," was his moderate
request. But the Major swore he should live no longer. Balfour
then drew out three musketeers, and placed them behind Thomas
Cook, while he knelt in prayer. Cravats were taken from the by-
standers, and put over the faces of the three. He then ordered the
soldiers to fire, and Thomas Cook fell dead. The other two he
despatched in the same manner ; and within an hour of their appre-
hension, all three were murdered, and the dogs were licking their
blood. The remains of the three martyrs are in Cathcart church-
yard. The inscription on their monument is in the Appendix. —
Ed.]

lOLONEL BUCHAN, with the Laird of Lee, and their men,
shot John Smith, in the parish of Lesmahagow, February
1685.

[John Smith lies buried in Muirkirk churchyard. The inscrip-
tion on his monument is in the Appendix. — Ed.]

lEUTENANT LAUDER shot to death William ShiUilaw,
at Woodhead, on the Water of Ayr, [July] anno 1685.
[In July 1685, Lieutenant Lewis Lauder, a subaltern
ofticer in the garrison of Sorn, met, at the Woodhead of Tarbolton,
William ShiUilaw, of Stairhead, a lad of eighteen or under. From his
age, he could not have been at Bothwell. His only fault was, that his
name had been given in by the curate for non-attendance at the
parish church. Seeing him cross the road, he ordered one of his
dragoons to apprehend him. When he was brought to him, after a
few of the usual questions, Lauder ordered him to be shot, which

A List of those Killed hi the Fields. 549

was done on the spot. His remains lie in Tarbolton churchyard.
The inscription on his monument is in the Appendix. — Ed.]

lEUTENANT NISBET and his party shot to death John
Fergushill, George Woodburn, and Peter Gemmel, in the
parish of Fenwick, in the said year.
[They were shot at the time when John Nisbet of Hardhill (see
p. 448) was apprehended and taken to Edinburgh. George Wood-
burn's sword — an Andrea Ferrara, of 40^ inches in length — is still in
the possession of one of his descendants, in the farm of Mains, in the
parish of Loudon. Peter Gemmel was an ancestor of Robert PoUok,
author of the " Course of Time," a native of the adjoining parish of
Eaglesham. Hence, doubtless, the title of one of PoUok's " Tales
of the Covenanters" — "Ralph Gemmel." A monument to John
Fergushill and George Woodburn is in Fenwick churchyard, and a
separate one to Peter Gemmel. Their inscriptions are in the Ap-
pendix.— Ed.]

lEUTENANT MURRAY with his party, shot one John
Brown, after quarter given, at Blackwood, in Clydesdale,
March 1685.

[Lieutenant Murray was going through the parish of Lesmahagow,
and met him in the fields. He first promised him quarter, as he
made no resistance ; but in a few minutes, without process or sen-
tence, he shot him near Blackwood, now a residence of W. E. Hope
Vere, Esq., and said to be the original of the Milnwood of Sir Walter
Scott's fiction. John Brown lies buried within a hundred yards to
the east of the mansion-house. The inscription on his monument is
in the Appendix. — Ed.]

LIEUTENANT CRICHTON did most barbarously, after
quarter, shoot David Steel, in the parish of Lesmahagow,
December [20], 1686.
[David Steel was tenant of the farm of Nether Skellyhill, in the
l^arish of Lesmahagow. He was at Bothwell Bridge, and hence-
forward he was a marked man. His name occurs on the fugitive-
roll of 1684. So rigorous was the search made for him, that he
dared not pass the night in his own house, but generally slept in a
hut about four miles from Skellyhill, near the source of the Nethan. A
writer in the " Edinburgh Christian Instructor" for 1830, says that the

550 A Cloud of Witnesses.

traces of this hut are still preserved, and pointed out by the shepherds.
In the close of 1686, he ventured to return to, and take up his stay
at, Skellyhill. On December 20th, Lieutenant Crichton, with a
detachment of horse and foot, came to the house. David Steel got
the alarm shortly befure they arrived, and slipped through a back-
window, and ran to the Logan water, about a quarter of a mile away,
with the soldiers behind him in pursuit. He crossed, but in crossing
he fell into the water, and wetted the powder of the musket he had
taken with him. He still, however, continued his flight to the steep
and bush-grown banks of the Nethan, about a mile away, where he
would soon have stayed the progress of his pursuers. But ere he
reached the Nethan, the dragoons were almost upon him, and his
strength failed him ; while Crichton called him to surrender, and he
should have quarter, and be taken to Edinburgh, and have a fair
trial. David Steel surrendered on these terms ; but Crichton had
no intention of fulfilling them. He took him back to Skellyhill,
where his wife, Mary Weir, had been watching his flight. With her
only child in her arms, she ran to meet him. Crichton took Da\id
to the field before his own door, and ordered the dragoons to shoot
him ; but they reminded him of his promise to spare the man's life ;
and on his peremptorily commanding them to fire, they declared they
would neither shoot him nor see him shot, and mounted their horses,
and rode off to Upper Skellyhill. Crichton now turned to his foot
soldiers, who were Highlanders, and the ignorant savages had no
scruples. They fired, and several balls pierced the martyr's head.
The murderers immediately left, and when the neighbours arrived,
they found the widow by the mangled corpse of her husband. Tra-
dition relates that the first words which she was heard to utter were,
"The archers have shot at thee, my husband, but they could not
reach thy soul : it has escaped like a dove, far away, and is at rest ! "
And then, clasping her hands, she prayed, " Lord, give strength to
thy handmaid that will prove she lias waited for Thee, even in the
way of Thy judgments." Skellyhill is still tenanted by a descendant
of Steel. Two thorn bushes near the house mark the place where he
was murdered. A monument was erected in 1858 or 1859, within a
few yards of the spot. The remains of Steel lie in Lesmahagow
churchyard. The inscription on the monument over them is in die
Appendix. — Ed.J

A List of those Killed in tlie Fields. 55 1

HE laird of Stenhoiise, Sir Robert Lawrie of Maxwelton, and
Jolin Craik of Stewarton, did instigate and urge Cornet
Baillie and his party of dragoons to shoot WilHam vSmith in
Hill [parish of (ilencairn], after he had been prisoner one night (it
was the day of Maxwelton's daughter's marriage), who also refused
to let him be buried in the churchyard. This Douglas of Stcnhouse,
being a laird of mean estate, was advanced (for such services as this,
and his excessive harassing, spoiling, and fining the people of God,
and because he was a papist), to the honour of being secretary for
.Scotland to James the Seventh ; but the wicked's honour is short
lived ; his name is extinct, having neither root nor branch, male or
female, nor any remembrance left unto him. The said Lawrie of
Maxwelton's steward reported that a cup of wine delivered that day
into his hand turned into congealed blood ; but be that as it will,
himself died by a fall from his horse some years after.

[William Smith was a young man of eighteen. Cornet Baillie of
the garrison of Caitloch met him in the fields near his father's house,
and had nothing against him save his refusal to answer the questions
put to him. Notwithstanding, he took him prisoner to Caitloch.
When his father heard of it he prevailed with his master, LaAvrie of
Maxwelton, to meet with Cornet Baillie at the kirk of Glencairn, to
get, as he hoped, his son set free. That day, March 4th 1685,
William Smith was brought before them, and still refusing to answer
the questions put to him, Maxwelton immediately passed sentence of
death upon him in virtue of the power he said he possessed as com-
missioner. Cornet Baillie called this sentence in question as illegal,
unless he summoned a jury and tried him before it, but Maxwelton
would hear of no delay, and threatened to report the cornet for
sparing him so long. Accordingly he was carried out to the Race-
moor, near by, and shot. He died, says Wodrow, with a great deal
of holy composure and courage, and in full assurance of faith,
declaring to the spectators that he suffered for no rebellion or any
crime, but only for converse with the persecuted people as they came
and Avent ; and for refusing to discover their haunts and lurking
places. He said much for the comfort of his parents wben he took
his farewell of them. — Ed,]

552 A Cloud of Witfiesses.

^^IR JAMES JOHNSTONE of Westerhall caused apprehend

Andrew Hislop in the parish of Hutton in Annandale, and

^^^ deUvered him up to Claverhouse, and never rested until he

got him shot by Claverhouse his troopers. Claverhouse would have
delayed it, but Westerhall was so urgent that Claverhouse was heard
say " This man's blood shall be upon Westerhall." At length upon
his urgency Claverhouse ordered a Highland [gentleman] captain of a
company [traversing the country with him] to do it, but he refused, and
drawing off his Highlanders to a convenient distance, swore that " her
nainsel would fight Claverhouse and all his dragoons first." Whereupon
he caused three of his own dragoons do it. May [loth] 1685. It is
observable of this Westerhall that he was once a great professor, and
one who had sworn the Covenant, and when the Test was framed he
bragged that he was an actual covenanter and scorned the Test ; but
when he had the trial he embraced it, and became a bitter enemy to
the work and people of God, and this man having been taken in his
ground he would have him shot to give proof of his loyalty. He
died about the Revolution in great torture of body by the gravel,
and horror, and anguish of conscience, insomuch that his cries were
heard at a great distance from the house as a warning to all such
apostates.

[Andrew Hislop was a young man, and lived, as did his brother
and sisters, with his mother, a. pious woman. To her house one
of the persecuted came in sickness, and in a few days died. Fearing
l)unishment for reset and converse, Mrs Hislop and her sons buried
the corpse under cover of night in a neighbouring field. The
grave was discovered, and Sir James Johnstone came with a party of
men and lifted the body. They soon found whence the corpse had
come, and immediately went and stripped the widoAv's house of its
contents, and pulled it to the ground, inflicting on the poor woman
a computed loss of six hundred and fifty pounds Scots. While she
and her family were thus forced to wander, Claverhouse, says
Wodrow, and not Westerhall, fell upon Andrew Hislop in the fields,
and brought him prisoner to Eskdale to Sir James Johnstone. Sir
James immediately passed sentence of death upon him. Claver-
house was unwilling to execute the sentence, perhaps, says Wodrow,
not wanting his own reflections upon John Brown of Priesthill's
murder ten days before. At last he ordered the Highland captain,
as narrated above. When the three dragoons were ready to fire, they

A List of those Killed in the Fields. 55^

told Andrew to draw his bonnet over his eyes. But Andrew
refused to do so, and courageously told them he could look his
death bringers in the face without fear, and that he had done nothing
whereof he was ashamed ; and holding up his Bible, which he had
in his hand, charged them to answer for what they had done, and
were to do, when at the great day they were to be judged by that
book. His remains lie where he was shot at Craighaugh in Eskdale.
The inscription on the monument over them is in the Appendix. —
Ed.]

IR ROBERT GRIERSON of Lagg, having the command
of a part of Claverhouse's troop and Strachan's dragoons,
surprised John Bell of Whiteside, David Halliday, portioner
of Mayfield, Andrew M'Robert, James Clement, and Robert Lennox
of Irelandtown, and barbarously killed them, after quarter, without
time allowed to pray ; when John Bell of Whiteside begged a little
time to pray, Lagg answered, "What the devil have you been doing?
Have you not prayed enough these many years in the hills?" and so
shot him presently in the parish of Tongland in Galloway, February
1685.

[John Bell of Whiteside in the parish of Anwoth, Kircudbright-
shire, was the only son of the heiress of Whiteside, who after his
father's death had married Viscount Kenmure. He was a man of
piety and sagacity, and had suffered much since the battle of
Bothwell Bridge, where he seems to have been. Immediately after
the battle his house was plundered. In 1681 Claverhouse and a
party of soldiers lay several weeks in his house, until they had
devoured all the provisions they could find ; and when they left they
carried off all his sheep. For several years he dare not live under his
own roof, but had to hide himself in the moors. Dr Simpson, in his
" Gleanings among the Mountains," relates several traditional stories
of narrow escapes he made from his enemies. It was in February
1685 that he at last fell into their hands. He and his four friends
were upon the hill of Kirkconnel, in Tongland Parish, Kirkcud-
brightshire, when they were taken and immediately shot. Shortly
after the murder, Viscount Kenmure, Claverhouse, and Lagg met at
Kirkcudbright, when the Viscount challenged the murderer for 'nis
cruelty to one whom he knew to be a gentleman, and nearly related
to him, and especially that he would not permit his corpse to be
buried. Lagg swore at him, and told him, " Take him if you will,

554 ^ Cloicd of Witnesses.

and salt him in your beef barrel." At which the Viscount drew his
sword, and would have run him through, had not Claverhouse inter-
fered and separated them. John Bell's remains are in Anwoth
Churchyard, David Halliday's are in Balmaghie, Robert Lennox's in
Girthon. The inscriptions are in the Appendix. — Ed.]

HE said Laird of Lagg, with the Earl of Annandale, having
command of some troops of heritors, pursued another David
Halliday [of Glencayre] and George Short, and apprehended
and shot them, under cloud of night, in the parish of Twynholm, in
Galloway, anno 1685.

[On June loth, according to Wodrow, but July nth, according to
the inscription on the monument in Balmaghie, over the remains of
David Halliday, Lord Annandale fell in with the two martyrs. On
their surrender he gave them quarter till they should be tried next
day ; but when Sir Robert Grierson of Lagg came up, he would have
them shot immediately, as they lay bound upon the ground. They
begged they might have the next day to prepare for eternity, and
Lord Annandale told Sir Robert he had promised them so much.
But nothing would move Lagg. He swore they should have no time,
and ordered his men to shoot them forthwith. The soldiers refused
until he threatened to do it himself, when the two were shot as they
lay. The remains of Short are also in Balmaghie cluirchyard. The
inscriptions on the monuments of both martyrs are in the Appendix,
—Ed.]

HE laird of Culzean [Sir Archibald Kennedy] for that time
captain of a troop of mihtia and heritors, killed William
M'Kirgue at Blairquahan Mill [parish of Straiton, Ayrshire],
anno 1685.

The laird of Culzean, with the laird of Ballochmiln, also shot
Gilbert M'Adam in the parish of Kirkmichael [Ayrshire] July 1685.

[Gilbert M'Adam was the son-m-law of James Dun in Benwhal,
Dalmellington, a worthy man who suffered much in his family for
their nonconformity. One son was murdered by the soldiers, and
two were banished. Gilbert M'Adam Avas apprehended in 1682 and
taken to Dumfries for his nonconformity. James Dun went and
o^ave security under a penalty of four hundred pounds for his appear-
ance when called, and he was set free. On his failing to appear, the
penaltj' was exacted. Shortly afterwards he was again taken and

A List of tJiose Killed in the Fields. 555

carried to Glasgow, where, when he refused to take the oath, he was
banished and sent away ni BaiUe Gibson's ship. His father had
given him ^£^20 with him, with which he bought his freedom in
America, and he returned home in 1685. On a Saturday night in
June or July, in the house of Hugh Campbell in Kirkmichael, he
and some friends were met for prayer, when Sir Archibald Kennedy,
with a company of soldiers, surrounded the house. Gilbert M'Adam
tried to escape, biit the soldiers fired and shot him dead. Wodrow
says he was a person of shining piety. — Ed.]

PARTY of Highlanders killed Joseph Wilson, David Dun,
Simon Paterson, and other two, near the water of Coyle in
Kyle [Ayrshire], anno 1685.
[IJavid Dun belonged to an Ayrshire family noted for their
attachment to the cause of truth and freedom, who suffered much
during the persecution. David Dun had been at a conventicle held
by James Renwick at Kilmien, a moorland spot four miles to the
north-west of Dalmellington. He was returning home, when he
saw a company of horsemen in the distance, trying to find their
way to Kilmien. He turned towards a morass, in the midst of
which was a hollow often resorted to by the persecuted when pursued,
and would have reached the hollow, had not another detachment of
cavalry coming from an opposite direction suddenly met him. He
thus found himself hemmed in, and his heavy horse sinking on the
edge of the moss, ere he could right himself he was a prisoner.
Simon Paterson had been at the same meeting, and seems to have
been taken at the same time. Their presence at the conventicle
was their only crime. Both were taken to the gallows standing at
Old Cumnock, and without trial, witnesses or jury, hanged that very
day. Joseph Wilson, John Humphry, and John and Alexander
Jamieson had come from Galloway, and had been at Kilmien. They
had sought refuge in Tod Fauld below Benbeoch Craig, in the parish
of Dalmellington, where they had lain for some time, but having
learned that a reward was offered for their apprehension they retired
to Carsgailoch Hill, about five miles to the west of New Cumnock.
Here the four were surprised the day after the meeting by a party of
dragoons. Alexander Jamieson, as Wodrov/ calls him, or James
Jamieson according to tradition, escaped, but the other three were
shot and left by the murderers unburied on the moor. Their friends
afterwards interred th*em on the spot where they fell. A monument

556 yi Cloud of Witnesses.

was erected about 1838 over their remains. In digging for its
foundation the workmen came upon the bodies of tlie martyrs lying
in the moss. They were in the coats, hose and bonnets, in which
they liad been shot. Their bodies were still in a state of good
preservation, and so was their dress, which was mainly a strong home
made cloth, tliat either had been, or had become the colour of the
moss. — Ed.]

HE laird of Ardincaple, commanding a party of Highland-
men, killed Robert Lockhart and Gabriel Thomson about
that time also, May ist, 1685.
[They had been at a conventicle, and were on their way home,
when they were overtaken by Ardincaple coming from the west. The
one was shot at Cowplie, at the foot of Alelowther Hill, about three
miles to the south-west of Eaglesham village ; the other got away,
but the soldiers came up to him about a mile further on the road
at Sparrow Hill, at a house now in ruins. With his back to the
gable of the house, he defended himself, but he was soon over-
powered and shot dead. They were strangers to the district.
Their remains lie in a corner of Eaglesham churchyard, since made
the burying-place of the ministers of the parish. When a new monu-
ment was erected in 1838 over the spot, in clearing out the founda-
tion two skulls were found not far from tlie surface, about the length
of a man from each other, lying " heads and thraws " i.e., in opposite
directions. No trace of a coffin was to be seen. The inscription
on the monument is in the appendix. — Ed,]

ILLTAM PATERSON was shot at Strathaven, uncertain by
whom, 1685.

[\^'illiam Paterson was son to Robert Paterson in Kirk-
hill, Cambusnethan, who was killed at Airsmoss. William Paterson
had been turned out of his house for nonconformity, his family was
scattered, and he himself suffered many privations, until at last he was
apprehended and sent abroad as a soldier. Making his escape, he
came home ; and, after being in concealment for some time, was
taken upon a .Sabbath day in 1685 at Charonheugh. There were
fourteen in the place, ten of whom, on the soldiers' approach under
Captain Bell, got into a secret place in the cave, while William and
other three were made prisoners, who took the oath of abjuration.
William Paterson refused it. when the soldiers carried him to Evan-

A Short Account of the Oppressive Exactions. 557

dsle Castle, where that afternoon, without trial, he was shot. His
remains lie in Stratliaven churchyard. The inscription is in the
appendix. — Ed.]

OHN M'GLORGAN was killed at Drummellian's house in
the night-time, not known by whom.

OHN REID, belonging sometimes to Craigie's troop, did
under cloud of night kill by a shot one George Wood,
about sixteen years old, without asking one question at
him, in Distinkhorn Hill in Kyle, June 1688.

[George Wood was the last who suffered previous to the Revolu-
tion. Wodrow says that -the murderer, when challenged for wliat he
had done, replied, " He knew him to be one of the Whigs, and they
ought to be shot wherever they were found." — Ed.]

N sum, their number amounts to seventy-eight. Besides
these cold-blood murders, there were many killed atseveral
skirmishes at Pentland, Bothwell, Airsmoss, etc., while fight-
ing in their own defence, and the defence of the field-meetings, the
number whereof amounts to about four hundred and some odds.

A Short Account of the Oppressive Exactions.

HE following short account, taken from the " Memorial of
Grievances," is far from being a full statement of the op-
pressive exactions during the twenty-eight years' persecu-
tion. The expectation of the compilers that a fuller statement
would be given was fulfilled by Wodrow. In the preface to the
second volume of the original edition of the history there is an
" abbreviate of fines and losses in the different shires and parishes
from particular information in the author's hands." This abbreviate

55 8 A Clottci of Witnesses,

cost the historian more labour than many sheets of his history, and
was formed out of several hundred sheets of informations from dif-
ferent parishes throughout the kingdom. Much labour as VVodrow
spent on it, lie says it was incomplete, for he had received no
information from far the greater part of the parishes where the
persecution raged. Hence he reckons the abbreviate to be at least
one half less than the reality. But the abbreviate itself is something
astounding. It is —

Fines and losses in the shires of Edinburgh, Selkirk, Berwick,

Roxburgh, Peebles, Dumfries, Galloway, Ayr, Renfrew,

Lanark, Fife, Perth, yi^i, 743,999 i8 8

Middleton's fines detailed in Wodrow's history, . . ljOI7, 353 6 8

Gentlemen in Renfrewshire 1684, detailed in the history, . 237,333 ^ ^

Gentlemen in Dumbartonshire as in the history, . . . 55,200 o o

Gentlemen in the shire of Murray {i.e., Elgin, Banff, Ross,

Sutherland], as in the histoiy 1685, . . . 120,933 6 8

Total, ^3,i74,«i9 i^ 8
-Ed.]

> *♦* <

XPECTING that others, who have the particular informa-
tions of matters of facts by them, will be concerned to
publish a more full account of these illegal lines and
robberies, it shall suffice at present to transcribe only
the general account of some of them out of the fore-
mentioned Memorial of Grievances ; which runs thus :
For fines and other exorbitant and illegal exactions
of money, the particular sums cannot be here enume-
rated ; but their vastness, when together calculated, may be easily
collected by the scraps already gathered of some poor families of
farmers, cottars, servants, etc., and many of these omitted or not
known (which would very considerably augment the sum), in some
few shires, viz. Clydesdale, Renfrew, Ayr, Galloway, Nithsdale, and
Annandale, only for but a few years, to wit, since Bothwell Bridge
insurrection, amounting to above 288,000 pound Scots ; besides the
many honest families which have been casten out of their houses,
harassed and spoiled of their all ; some of their houses being thrown
down, some burnt, some shut up, their goods and moveables seized
upon, their crop and cattle also disposed of at the Avill ot their

A Slwrt Account of the Oppressive Exactions. 559

persecutors, in the foremen tioned shires, amounting to above two
hundred.

The immediate authors, actors, and instruments of these oppres-
sions, were principally the curates instigating the Privy Council, which
empowered the forces, and noblemen, and gentlemen of the countrj^
to prey upon the poor people. All cannot be here expressed, but some
of the most noted in the western shires shall be named, who were the
greatest persecutors and oppressors by finings and odier exactions.

F officers of the forces, Colonel Douglas, brother to the Duke
of Queensberry, exacted above 2000 pounds Scots money in
Galloway. Nithsdale, shire of Ayr, and other places.

Lieutenant General Drummond, besides the forefaultures \i.e.,
forfeitures] of gentlemen, did also exact moneys of the poor in the
shire of Ayr.

The Earl of Linlithgow and his soldiers spoiled much in Galloway.

The Earl of Airly and his troop in the same shire.

The Lord Balcarras, a great oppressor in Galloway, besides all
the robberies he committed in Fife.

Graham of Claverhouse, afterwards Viscount of Dundee, with his
brother and subaltern officers in Galloway, Nithsdale, and Annandale,
exacted by fines and otherwise above 13,500 pounds Scots money.

Colonel Buchan, a most violent persecutor in Galloway and the
shire of Ayr, by robberies took from the people upwards of 4000
pounds Scots.

Major Cockburn, a great oppressor in Galloway.

Major White in Clydesdale, and shire of Ayr, exacted by fines
and otherwise above 2500 pounds Scots.

Major Balfour, a great persecutor and oppressor in Clydesdale.

Captain Strachan with his troop oppressed and spoiled much in
Galloway and other places.

Captain Inglis with his troop did dispossess many families, and
got much spoil in Galloway, Ayr, and Clydesdale.

Captain Douglas in Galloway committed much outrage and spoil.

Captain Dalziel harassed much in Annandale.

Captain Bruce in Nithsdale.

Meldrum in Clydesdale took from poor families upwards of

2800 pounds, and vast sums in Merse and Teviotdale, A\ith the Earl
of Hume, and Ker of Grandoun, with the lairds of Haining and
Blindlee, and in Tweeddale with the laird of Posso.

560 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Lieutenant AVinram in Galloway, a very vigilant persecutor and
spoiler.

Lieutenant Barns, also in the same sliire, took much spoil.

Lieutenant Lauder in tlie shire of Ayr, a most outrageous per-
secutor and oppressor.

James Irvine of Bonshaw, a borderer, a highwayman, afterwards
an officer of dragoons, robbed much from the poor people in
Clydesdale.

Duncan Grant, a cripple with a tree leg, a very outrageous per-
secutor, exacted in Clydesdale from poor people above 1500 pounds.

F noblemen, gentlemen, and others, tlie greatest oppressors

and persecutors of the people were :
In Clydesdale.
Sommerville of Spittel, sheriff-depute, who, beside his other

ways of persecution, wherein he was most active, drew from

the poorest people above 1200 pounds.
The laird of Halyards, who uplifted more than 8500 pounds.
The laird of Lachop, a great persecutor and oppressor.
The laird of Bonnytown and laird Symme, both violent perse-
cutors and exactors.
In the city of Glasgow :

Provost Johnston, Provost Barns, Baillie John Anderson,

Baillie Yuil, Baillie Graham, William Stirling, Baron-Bailiff,

great persecutors, exacted above 20,000 pounds.
In Renfrew :

The Earl of Glencairn, by fines and dispossessing of families,

exacted partly there, and partly in Clydesdale and Niths-

dale, above 2400 pounds.
Lord Sempill, a papist, a persecutor.
Alexander Hume in Eaglesham, a most violent and vigilant

persecutor and exactor, with many others.
Mr Ezekiel Montgomerie, a great fine-monger.
In the shire of Ayr :

The Earl of Dumfries exacted above 1000 pounds.
The Lord Craigie, a great persecutor and oppressor.
William Crighton, sheriff-depute, very violent and active.
James Crawford of Ardmillan, a wicked persecutor and

spoiler.
Mr William Crawford, Montgomery of Bozland. the laird of

A Short Accottnt of the Oppressive Exactions. 561

Broych, and Clerk Ogilvie, all great persecutors, who sought
to make themselves up with the spoils of the poor people.
In Galloway :

The laird of Lagg, Grierson, a most wicked persecutor there,

and in Nithsdale exacted above 1200 pounds.
The laird of Elie, Lidderdale, and Canon of Mardrogate, all
diligent persecutors and intelligencers, together with the
then collectors.
In Nithsdale :

The Duke of Queensberry and his sons oppressed much.
John Alison, chamberlain to the Duke of Queensberry, who,
when dying said, " He had damned his soul for the Duke
his master," and George Charters, another of the Duke's
factors, who vaunted he had made twenty-six journeys in
one year in pursuit of the Whigs.
John Douglas of Stenhouse, a Papist, exacted above 5000

pounds.
The laird of Closeburn, above 700 pounds.
Sir Robert Dalziel, upwards of 400 pounds of a few poor

families.
Sir Robert Lawrie of Maxwelton, an oppressor and persecutor.
In Annandale :

The Lord Annandale dispossessed and harassed many families,

and persecuted much in Galloway.
Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall, a great persecutor, ex-
acted upwards of 11,000 pounds.
Sir Patrick Maxwell of Springkell, a very active and violent

persecutor and oppressor.
The lairds of Powdeen, Castlemilk, Robert Carruthers of
Rammerscales, Thomas Kennedy of Heybeiths, were most
violent persecutors of poor people.
From these short accounts of the oppressions, bloodshed, and
illegal tyranny exercised in this land, it may be conjectured what the
total would amount to if a history thereof were published ; but all
these (howsoever great) persecutions are but little in comparison of
what THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS and her children intend
against us : which that the Lord may prevent, ought to be the serious
prayer and strenuous endeavour of all them that have a regard to
the greatest interests of themselves and posterity.

THE

EPITAPHS OR INSCRIPTIONS

THAT ARE UPON THE TOMBS OR GRAVESTONES OF THE

MARTYRS IN SEVERAL CHURCHYARDS AND OTHER

PLACES WHERE THEY LIE BURIED.

0 fill up the vacancy of some pages, it is conceived that it
will be neither impertinent to the subject nor unacceptable
to the reader to insert the following epitaphs or inscriptions
that are upon the tombs or gravestones of the martyrs, in several
churchyards and other places where they lie buried. And the reader
is desired to remembet, that they being mostly composed by illiterate
country people, one cannot reasonably expect neatness and elegant
poetry in them, and therefore will readily pardon any harshness in
the phrase or metre which he may meet with. — Note by the compilers
of the Cloud.

[In the first edition the inscriptions fill six double-columned pages,
closely printed down to the very bottom, as if there were others for
which room could not be found. Following these inscriptions, a
number of others, taken from gravestones in different parts of the
country, have now been added for the first time. One or two of
them, both of those in the first edition and of those now appended,
have been verified by kind friends, but in most cases the writer has
visited the localities themselves in which the monuments are to be
found. At the end of each inscription a short account is given of
the stone, or of the martyrs, where they have not been mentioned in
the foregoing pages. — Ed.]

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 563

.MARTYRS MO.MjMb.NT, OKEYFKIARS.

N a Monument in Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh.

Upon the head of the tomb there is the effigies of an
oijen Bible, drawn with these Scripture citations : " And when he
had opened the first seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them
that had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony
which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying. How
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our
blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were
given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they
should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also,
and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be
fulfilled" (Rev. vi. 9-1 1). "These are they which have come out
of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb " (Rev. vii. 1 4).

" Halt, passenger, take heed what thou dost see :
This tomb doth shew for what some men did die.
Here lies interred the dust of those who stood
'Gainst perjury, resisting unto blood ;

564 A Cloud of Witnesses.

Adhering to the Covenants and Laws,

EstabUshing the same, which was the cause

Their lives were sacrificed unto the lust

Of prelatists abjured. Though here their dust

Lies mixt with murderers', and other crew,

Whom justice justly did to death pursue ;

But as for thir, in them no cause was found

Worthy of death ; but only they were found

Constant and steadfast, zealous, witnessing

For the prerogatives of Christ their King.

Which truths were sealed by famous Guthrie's head,

And all along to Master Renwick's blood.

They did endure the wrath of enemies.

Reproaches, torments, deaths, and injuries.

But yet they're these who from such troubles came.

And now triumph in glory with the Lamb.

" From May 27th, 1661, that the noble Marquis of Argyle
suffered, to the 17th of February 1688, that Mr James Renwick
suffered, were execute at Edinburgh, about an hundred of noblemen,
gentlemen, ministers, and others, noble martyrs for Jesus Christ.
The most part of them lies here. This tomb was erected anno 1706."

Upon the foot of the monument stands a crown, with this inscrip-
tion : " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

[This, well known as the Martyrs' Monument, is at the north-
east corner of the Greyfriars churchyard, near the spot at one time
appropriated to the bodies of criminals. The Rev. William Goold,
minister of the Reformed Eresbyterian Congregation in Edinburgh,
from 1804 to 1844, told the writer that the grave-diggers were ordered
by the authorities to bury the remains of the martyrs among those of
murderers and other criminals who had been interred there. The
grave-diggers, however, secretly sympathised with the cause for which
the martyrs suffered, and took care that while burying their remains
in the corner, it should yet be in a part of it where the body of no
criminal had ever been laid, so that the dust of the two could not
in any way intermingle. The opposite seems to be stated on the
monument itself, but Mr Goold was a man of antiquarian tastes, and
from his long connection with the Reformed Presbyterian Church —
he was in his sixty-ninth year when he died in 1844 — was the ver\'
person to have heard and to have sifted its traditions.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 565

The present monument was erected in 177 1, in place of an older
and smaller one erected in 1706, by James Currie, merchant in Pent-
land. This older monument is still in existence in the possession of
a representative of Charles Fairnington, the stone-cutter who put up
the present one. It is in excellent preservation, and the inscription
has been verified from it. James Currie was a worthy member of
the united societies. His name is at the call the societies gave in
1706 to Rev. John M'Millan of Balmaghie. He suffered much
during the persecution, and had more than one narrow escape for
his life. He has left a record in " Passages in the life of James
Currie," which, along with a similar tract by his like minded wife,
Helen Alexander, have been recently issued in a small volume by
one of his descendants, C. U. Aitchison, Esq., of the Indian Civil
Service. The records of the Edinburgh Town Council, under date
28th August 1706, contain the substance of the memorial asking per-
mission to erect the monument. It craves that the Council would
allow the said monument "to be put up without paying of anything
to the Kirk Treasurer as was done at Glasgow and other places of
the nation." The Council granted the prayer of the memorial.

We have given the original inscription as on the old monument
and as in the first edition of the " Cloud." The inscription on the
present monument differs somewhat in arrangement of its paragraphs
from that on the old, but otherwise it is substantially the same. — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

N a Gravestone in Hamilton Churchyard.

" At Hamilton lie the heads of John Parker, Gavin
Hamilton, James Hamilton, and Christopher Strang, who suffered at
Edinburgh, December 7th, 1666.

" Stay, passenger, take notice what thou reads ;
At Edinburgh ly our bodies, here our heads ;
Our right hands stood at Lanark, these we want.
Because with them we sware the Covenant.

" Renewed 1828."

[The monument is built into the east wall of the churchyard ;
and the grotesque appearance of the four sculptured heads, that

566 A Cloud of Witnesses.

come in between its prose and rhyme, is one of the first objects to
arrest the eye on entering the enclosure. It is a slab of freestone,
four feet two inches in length, by two feet eight inches in breadth.

John Parker was a waulker \i.e., a fuller of cloth] in East Kil-
bride ; Gavin Hamilton, a tenant in Carluke ; James Hamilton, in
Killiemuir ; and Christopher Strang, in East Kilbride. All four were
taken prisoners at Pentland. They were tried at Edinburgh before
the Council, and were sentenced to be hanged at Edinburgh, on
December 7th, 1666; and after they were dead, their heads and
right hands to be cut off, and disposd of as the Lords of Privy Council
should think fit. " Naphtali " contains the joint testimony of the four,
and other six condemned along with them. — Ed.]

N a Stone in the High Churchyard, Glasgow.

" Here lies the corps of Robert Bunton, John Hart,
Robert Scott, Matthew Patoun, John Richmond, James Johnstoun,
Archibald Stewart, James Winning, John Main, who suffered at the
Cross of Glasgow, for their testimony to the Covenants and work of
Reformation, because they durst not own the authority of the then
tyrants, destroying the same betwixt 1666 and 1688.

" Years sixty-six and eighty-four,
Did send their souls home into glore,
Whose bodies here interred ly
Then sacrificed to tyranny
To covenants and reformation
'Cause they adhered in their station.
These Nine, with others in this yard
Whose heads and bodies were not spar'd
Their testimonies, foes, to bury
Caused beat the drums then in great fury.
They'll know at resurrection day
To murder saints was no sweet play.

" The original stone and inscription repaired and new lettered,
1827, at the expense of a few friends of the cause for which the
martyrs suffered."

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 567

[From the memorial to the Edinburgh Town Council, asking
permission to erect the monument in the Greyfriars', it appears that
the stone in Glasgow High Churchyard had been erected previous
to 1706. This stone, from which the above inscription has been
copied, was lying on its side against the wall of the churchyard
when we visited it in 1866; but the inscription has been transferred
to the outside of the north wall of the Cathedral. The testimonies
of John Richmond, James Johnston, Archibald Stewart, James
Winning, and John Main are in the " Cloud." Robert Bunton, or
Buntine, was a native of Fenwick, where a monument has recently
been erected to his memory. John Hart was a native of Glassford.
Robert Scott belonged to Dalserf Matthew Patoun was a shoe-
maker in Newmilns. All were at Pentland. They were tried at
Glasgow, December 17, 1666, and were hanged on the 19th. Wodrow
says that at their execution the men were most cheerful, and had
much of sense of the Divine love upon them, and a great deal of
peace in their sufferings. — Ed.]

> *♦♦ <

pN a Stone at Inchbelly Bridge, Kirkintilloch.

" 'Twas martyrs blood bought Scotland's liberty. Erected,
February 1865, in room of the old tombstone, by the people of
Kirkintilloch and neighbourhood. Original inscription : In this field
lies the corpse of John Wharry and James Smith, who suffered in
Glasgow, 13 June 1683, for their adherence to the Word of God, and
Scotland's Covenanted Work of Reformation : ' And they overcame
them by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ;
and they loved not their lives unto the death '" (Rev. xii. 11).

" Halt, courteous passenger, and look on
Our bodies dead, & lying under this stone.
Altho' we did commit no deed, nor fact
That was against the Bridegroom's contract,
Yet we to Glasgow were as prisoners brought.
And against us false witness they sought.
Their sentence cruel and unjust they past.
And then our corps on scaffold they did cast.

568 A Cloud of Wibiesses.

There we our lives and right hands also lost.

From Glasgow we were brought unto this place

In chains of iron hung up for certain space.

Then taken down interred here we ly —

From 'neath this stone our blood to heaven doth cry.

Had foreign foes, Turks, or Mahometans,

Had Scythians, Tartars, Arabian Caravans,

Had cruel Spaniards, the Pope's blood seed,

Commenced the same, less strange had been the deed ;

But Protestants, profest our Covenants to.

Our countrj'men, this bloody deed could do.

Yet notwithstanding of their hellish rage

The noble VVharry stepping on the stage

With courage bold and with a heart not faint.

Exclaims, This blood now seals our covenant —

Ending, They who would follow Christ should take

Their cross upon their back, the world forsake."

[The monument is about three quarters of a mile to the east of
Inchbelly Bridge, on the road between Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth.
The original monument is a flat stone, six feet by three, and along-
side of it is the new one, and both are enclosed under an iron
grating. The inscription on the old monument, when we visited
it in October 1866, so far as we could trace it out, seemed identical
with that on the new by its side, yet it differs considerably from the
following one, that given in the first edition of the " Cloud," which
is three lines shorter, and has all the appearance of being a correct
transcript. The probability is, that what is called on the new stone
" the old tombstone " is not much older than this century, and that
it is the successor of an older one on which may have been inscribed
the following epitaph :

" Halt, passenger, read here upon this stone
A tragedy, our bodies done upon.
At Glasgow Cross we lost both our right hands,
To fright beholders, th' enemy so commands ;
Then put to death, and that most cruelly.
Yet where we're slain, even there we must not lie.
From Glasgow town we're brought unto this place,
On Gallow tree hung up for certain space.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 569

Yet thence ta'en down, interred here we lie

Beneath this stone ; our blood to heaven doth cry.

Had foreign foes, Turks or Mahometans,

Had Scythian Tartars, Arabian caravans,

Had cruel Spaniards, the Pope's bloody seed,

Commenc'd the same, had been less strange their deed.

But Protestants, once Covenanters too.

Our countrymen, this cruel deed could do :

Yet, notwithstanding this, their hellish rage,

The noble Wharrie leapt upon the stage.

With courage bold, he said, and heart not faint,

' This blood shall now seal up our covenant,'

Ending, ' they who would follow Christ, should take

' Their cross upon their back, the world forsake.' "

^— •♦•—<

N a Monument in Castle Street, Glasgow.

" The dead yet speaketh. Behind this stone lyes James
Nisbet, who suffered martyrdom at this place, June 5th, 1684. Also
James Lawson and Alexander Wood, who suffered martyrdom, Oc-
tober 24th, 1684, for their adherence to the Word of God, and
Scotland's Covenanted Work of the Reformation.

" Here ly martyrs three,
Of memory,
Who for the Covenants did die :

And witness is
'Gainst all the nation's perjury
'Gainst the Covenanted cause
Of Christ, their royal king.
The British rulers made such laws,
Declar'd 'twas satan's reign.
As Britain lies in guilt, you see,
'Tis ask'd, oh reader, art thou free.

" This stone was renewed by the proprietors of the Monkland
Navigation, April 1818, and again in granite by the citizens in
1862. Drink and think, the Martyrs Monument."

5 70 A Cloud of Witnesses.

[This monument is about a quarter of a mile's walk to the north
of the High Church of Glasgow, at the Monkland Canal in Castle
Street. It is a large tablet of polished granite, built into the wall
that encloses the canal. Beneath the tablet a drinking fountain has
recently been added. — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

N a Monument in the Cemetery, Paisley.

" Here lie the corpses of James Algie and John Park,
who suffered at the cross of Paisley for refusing the Oath of Abjura-
tion, February 3, 1685.

" Stay, passenger, as thou goest by,
And take a look where these do lie ;
Who for the love they bore to truth
Were depriv'd of their life and youth.
Tho' laws made then caused many die,
Judges and 'sizers were not free.
He that to them did these delate,
The greater count he hath to make :
Yet no excuse to them can be ;
At ten condemn'd, at two to die.
So cruel did their rage become,
To stop their speech, caus'd beat the drum.
This may a standing witness be
'Twixt Presbytery and Prelacy.

" The stone containing the epitaph transcribed on this monument
was erected over the grave on the Gallowgreen, the place of common
execution ; and on the occasion of the ground being built upon, it
was removed near to this spot, along with the remains of the martyrs,
by order of the magistrates; 1779.''

[James Algie and John Park were two young men that belonged
to Kenniswood, a village four miles to the south-west of Glasgow.
They were seized on the Lord's day, February 1685, while in their
own house, as they were about to make family worship. They were
tried in the usual summarj' Avay the following Tuesday, and were
hanged the same day at two o'clock.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 571

In the original edition of the " Cloud," the gravestone is said to
have been ui Eastwood, but this is evidently a mistake, for Paisley is
the place where it has always been. The monument, which is a
handsome obelisk, was erected in 1835. — Ed.]

> *♦• <

w^lN a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Cathcart.

" This is the stone tomb of Robert Thom, Thomas Cook,
and John Urie, Martyrs for owning the Covenanted Work of Refor
mation, the nth of May 1685.

" The bloody murderers of these men
Were Major Balfour and Captain Maitland,
And with them others were not free,
Caus'd them to search in Polmadie.
As soon as they had them out found,
They murder'd them with shots of guns.
Scarce time did they to them allow
Before their Maker their knees to bow.
Many like in this land have been,
Whose blood for vengeance cries to heav'n.
This cruel wickedness you see,
Was done in loan of Polmadie,
This may a standing witness be
'Twixt Presbytry and Prelacy."

[The monument is a single flat stone, six feet and a half in length,
by three and a-half in breadth, and when we visited it in 1865, was in
good preservation. The lettering has been retouched some years
ago. Its style is rare about Glasgow, but common on the martyrs'
monuments in Galloway. — Ed.]

> — ♦— <

^N a Stone in the Churchyard, Eaglesham.

" Psa. cxii. 6, The righteous shall be in everlasting re-
membrance. Here lie Gabriel Thomson and Robert Lockhart, who

572

A Cloud of Witnesses.

were killed for owning the Covenanted Testimony, by a party of
Highlandmen and dragoons, under the command of Ardencaple, ist
May 1685

"These men did search through moor and moss,

To find out all that had no pass.

These faithful witnesses were found

And murdered upon the ground.

Their bodies in this grave do lie.

Their blood for vengeance yet doth cry.

This may a standing witness be

For Presbytry 'gainst Prelacy."

[The old monument is alongside of the new one, to which its
inscription has been transferred. — Ed.]

MONL'.ME.NT AT AIRSMOSS.

^r-memr^y!

^^|N a Stone at Airsmoss.

" Here lies the corpse of that famous and faithful
preacher of the Gospel, the Rev. Richard Cameron, with the corpses

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 573

of several others who were conquered by the bloody enemies of truth
and godliness.

" Halt, curious passenger, come and read ;
Our souls triumph with Christ our glorious head,
In self-defence we murdered here do ly,
To witness 'gainst this nation's perjury."

[The stone, when we visited it August 1871, was somewhat
broken on one of the sides, and the word " preacher" has been nearly
obliterated. Part of the inscription has become quite illegible.
The stone in 1832 was set upon a platform some ten feet square, in
the centre of which is an obelisk with the following inscription :
"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Richard Cameron, Michael
Cameron, John Gemniel, John Hamilton, James Gray, Robert Dick,
Captain John Fowler, Thomas Watson, Robert Paterson." The
obelisk is towards the east end of the moss, and is a prominent
object from the railway between Lugar and Muirkirk stations, about
half a mile to the northward. — Ed.]

►♦^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Strathaven.

" Here lyes the corpses of William Paterson and John
Barrie, wlio was shot to death for their adhering to the Word of God
and our Covenants, anno 1685.

" Here lys two martyrs ; severally who fell
By Captains Inglis and by bloody Bell.
Posterity shall know they're shot to death,
As sacrifices unto Popish wrath."

On the pedestal of the stone—" Renewed by the Reformers of
Avondale at the passing of the Reform Bill, anno domini 1832.'"

574 ^^ Cloud of Wihiesses.

N a Gravestone at Blackwood, in the parish of Lesma-
hagow.

" Here lyes the corpse of John Brown, who wa.» shot to death,
mthout shadow of law, anno dom. 1685.

" Murray might murder

Such a godly Brown,
But could not rob him

Of that glorious crown
He now enjoys. His credit,

Not his crime
Was non-compliance

With a wicked time."

> ■♦♦^ <

N a Gravestone at Priesthill.

" Here hes the body of John Brown, martyr, who was
murdered in this place by Graham of Claverhouse for his testimony
to the Covenanted work of Reformation, because he durst not own
the authority of the then tyrant destroying the same, who died the
first day of May a.d. 1685, and of his age 58.

"In death's cold bed the dusty part here lyes
O f one who did the earth as dust despise.
H ere in this place from earth he took departure :
N ow he has got the garland of the martyr.

" B utchered by Claverse and his bloody band,
R aging most ravenously over all the land,
O nly for owning Christ's supremacy.
W ickedly wronged by encroaching Tyranny,
N othing how near soever he to good

Esteemed, nor dear for any truth his blood."

[Priesthill is easiest approached from Muirkirk. The monument
is four miles from Muirkirk out on the moor. The stone is a flat

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 575

one five feet in length by two feet six inches in breadth. It has been
enclosed by a dyke. Close by it stands an obelisk, with an inscrip-
tion recording its own erection and the enclosing of the grave in
1826.— Ed.]

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Lesmahagow.

" Here lies the body of David Steel, martyr, who was
murdered by Chrichton for his testimony to the Covenants and
work of Reformation, and because he durst not own the authority of
the tyrant destroying the same. He was shot at Skellyhill on the
20th of December 1686, in the 33d year of his age.

" Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

" David a shepherd first, and then
Advanced to be king of men.
Had of his graces in this quarter
This heir, a wand'rer, now a martyr,
Who for his constancy and zeal.
Still to the back did prove true Steel.
Who for Christ's royal truth and laws,
And for the covenanted cause
Of Scotland's famous Reformation ;
Declining tyrant's usurpation.
By cruel Chrichton murdered lies,
Whose blood to heaven for vengeance cries."

> ■^♦^ <

N a Gravestone m Craickhaugh. Eskdalemuir.

" Here lies And. Hyslop, martyr, shot dead upon this
place by Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall, and John Graham of
Claverhouse, for adhering to the Word of God, Christ s kingly
government in His house, and the Covenanted work of Reformation,
against tyranny, perjury, and prelacy, May 12, 1685. Rev. xii. 11."

" Halt, passenger, one word with thee or two,
Why I ly here wouldest thou truly know ?

576 ^1 Cloud of Witnesses.

By wicked hands, hands cruel and unjust,
Without all law, my life from me they thrust,
And being dead they left me on this spot.
And for burial this same place I got,
Truth's friends in Eskdale now triumph their lot.
To wit, the faithful, for my seal that got.

" 1702. Repaired by subscription, 1825."

> ■<»»^ <

„. ilN a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Dumfries.

" Here lyes William Grierson, Pentland martyr, for his
adhering to the Word of God, and appearing for Christ's kingly
government in His house and Covenanted work of Reformation,
against perjury and prelacy, executed Jan. 2, 1667. Rev. xii. 11.

" Under this stone lo here doth ly
Dust sacrificed to tyranny ;
Yet precious in Immanuel's sight
Since martyr'd for His kmgly right.
When He condemns these hellish drudges,
By suffrage saints shall judge the judges."

^^♦^ <

f^^^N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Dumfries.

■'^^^^ " Here lyes William Welsh, Pentland martyr, lor his
adhereing to the Word of God, and appearing for Christ's kingly
government in His house, and the Covenanted work of Reformation
against perjury and prelacie, execute Jan"" 2, 1667. Rev. xii. 11.

" Stay, passenger, read,
Here interr'd doth ly
A witnes gainst poor
Scotland's perjury.
Whose head once fix'd up

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 577

On the bridge port stood.
Proclaiming vengance
For his guiltles blood."

[The stone is of the same character as that to John Grierson.
It is five feet six inches in length, by one foot ten inches in breadth.
—Ed.]

> ■^♦^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Dumfries.

" Here lyes James Kirko, martyr, shot dead upon the
sands of Drumfreis, for his adhereing to the word of God, Christ's
kingly goverment, in his house, and the Covenanted work of Refor-
mation against tirranie, perjurie, and prelacie, 1685. Rev. xii. 11.

" By bloody Bruce and wretched Wright,
I lost my life in great despight ;
Shot dead without due time to try
And fitt me for eternity ;
A witnes of prelatick rage
As ever was in any age."

[The stone is similar to the other two in the churchyard. — Ed.]

»>•— ^

N a Gravestone in a Clump of Trees near the Church of
Irongray.

" Here lyes Edward Gordon and Alexander M'Cubine, martyres,
hanged without law by Lagg and Cap. Bruce, for adhering to the
word of God, Christ's kingly goverment, in his house, and the
Covenanted work of Reformation against tyranny, perjury, and
prelacy. Rev. xii. 11. March 3, 1685.

" As Lagg and bloodie Bruce command,
We were hung up by heUish hand ;

5 7^ yi Cloud of Witnesses.

And thus their furious rage to stay,
We dyed near Kirk of Irongray ;
Here now in peace sweet rest we take,
Once murder'd for reUgion's sake. '

[The gravestone lies flat and is enclosed by a railing. Alongside
of it is a monument erected in 1857, "designed," it is said in the
inscription, " to express the respect cherished by the present genera-
tion for the memory and principles of the martyrs whose ashes repose
on this spot."— Ed.]

F^^^N a Stone in a Moor near Lochenkit or Larghill.

^-^^-^ " Here lyes John Gordon, William Stuart, William Heron,
and John Wallace, martyrs, shot by Captain Bruce.

" Behold here in this wilderness we ly.
Four witnesses of hellish cruelty.
Our lives and blood could not their ire asswage,
But when we're dead, they did against us rage ;
That match the like, we think, we scarcely can.
Except the Turks, or Duke de Alva's men."

[The graves of these four martyrs are situated on a moor about a
mile and a-half to the north of Brooklands House, parish of Urr,
Kirkcudbrightshire. They are surrounded by a clump of trees enclosed
within a wall. The inscription on the tombstone is quite illegible.
Near by on a rising knoll is a monument built of granite, on the top
of which is a hand with the finger pointing heavenwards. A tablet
on one of its sides bears the following inscription : " Yonder lie
William Heron from Glencairn, John Gordon, William Stewart, John
Wallace, Galloway men who were found out and shot dead here, 2d
March 1685, by Captain Bruce, for their adherence to Scotland's
Covenant and Reformation. To commemorate the principles for
which these martyrs suffered, this monument is erected by subscrip-
tions, after services preached here by Messrs M'Lachlan and M'Gill,
184,:;."— Ed.]

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 579

N the Churchyard, Glencairn.

I. Oil John Gibson.

" Here lyes John Gibson, martyr, shot to death by Col.
Douglas and Livingston's dragoons at Englestoun in Glencairn, for
adhering to the word of God, Christ's kingly government, in liis
house, and the Covenanted work of Reformation against tyrany,
perjury, and prelacy, Apryl 28, 1685. Rev. xii. 11.

" My soul's in heaven, here's my dust.
By wicked sentence and unjust
Shot dead, convicted of no crime,
But non compliance with the time, .
When Babel's bastard had command,
And monstrous tyrants rul'd the land."

2. On James Bennoch.

" Here lyes James Bennoch, shot to death by Col. Douglas
and Livingston's dragoons, at Englestoun in Glencairn, for adhering
to the word of God, Christ's kingly government, in his house, and
the Covenanted work of Reformation against tyrany, perjury, and
prelacy, Apryl 28, 1865. Rev. xii. 11.

" Here lies a monument of Popish wrath ;
Because I'm not perjur'd I'm shot to death
By cruel hands ; men godless and unjust
Did sacrifice my blood to Babel's lust."

3. On Robert Edgar aiid Robert Mitchel, both under one Stone.

" Here lyes Robert Edgar and Robert Mitchell, martyrs, shot
to death by Colonel Douglas and Livingston's dragoons, at Englestoun
in Glencairn, for adhering to the word of God, Christ's kingly govern-
ment, in his house, and the Covenanted work of Reformation against
tyrany, perjury, and prelacy, Apryl 28, 1685. Rev. xii. 11.

" Halt, passenger, tell if thou ever saw
Men shot to death without process of law.
We two of four who in this churchyard ly.
Thus felt the rage of Popish tyranny."

580 A Cloud of Witnesses.

[The stones are each lying flat, and are five feet six inches in
length, by two feet two inches in breadth. They are enclosed by an
iron railing. In a garden in Ingleston, about a mile to the south-
west of the churchyard, is an upright stone two feet in height, by two
feet six inches in breadth, with the inscription — " In this yard were
shot John Gibson, James Bennoch, Robert Edgar, Robert Mitchell,
and Robert Grierson, April 28, 1685, by Colonel Douglas and
Livingston's dragoons, for adhering to Christ's kingly government in
his Church, against tyrannie, perjurie, and prelacie." A thorn bush,
about thirty yards to the east of the stone, is said to be the spot at
which they were shot. — Ed.]

> ■^♦^ <

|N a Stone in the Churchyard, Tynron.

" Here lyes William Smith, in Hill, who, for his adhering
to the Covenanted Work of Reformation, was shot at Moniaive Moss
the 29th day of March 1685. His age 19 years. This deed was not
done by a council of war, but by countrymen without syse \i.e., assize,
or trial by jury.]

" I, William Smith, now here do ly,
Once martyr'd for Christ's verity.
Douglas of Stenhouse, Lawrie of Maxwelton,
Caus'd Coronet Bailie give me martyrdom.
What cruelty they to my corps then us'd
Living may judge ; me burial refus'd."

[The monument is similar in size and form to those in Glencaim.
The place where he was shot was at a large stone in a field about
half a mile to the east of the Cross of Moniaive. His body was
refused burial in the churchyard, and so was laid in a grave at the
doorstep of the farm house of Hill. After the Revolution it was dis-
interred, and put where it now lies in the churchyard. — Ed.]

^-^^^^ ^

Epitaphs or luscriptions. 581

|N a Stone near Dalveen Pass, Durisdeer.

" Here lyes the corpse of Daniel M'Michael who was
shot by Ualziel of Kirkmichael, January 1685.

'' As Daniel cast into hon's den,

For praying unto God, and not to men ;

Thus lions cruelly devoured me,

For bearing unto truth my testimony.

I rest in peace, till Jesus rend the cloud,

And judge 'twixt me and those who shed my blood.

[The stone lies flat, and is situated near the entrance to the pass,
not far from the roadside. — Ed.]

> ^♦^ <

^N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Balmaghie.

" Here lyes David Halliday, portioner of Mayfield, who
was shot upon the 21st of February 1685, and of David Halliday,
once in Glenape, who was likewise shot upon the nth of July 1685,
for their adherence to the principles of Scotland's Covenanted Refor-
mation.

" Beneath this stone two Davids Hallidays
Do ly, whose souls now sing their Master's praise.
To know, if curious passengers desyre
For what, by whome, and hou they did expyre .-*
They did oppose this nation's perjurey,
Nor could they join with lordly Prelacy.
Indulging favours from Christ's enemies,
Quench'd not their zeal : This monument then crys.
These were the causes not to be forgot,
Why they by Lag so wickedly were shot,
One name, one cause, one grave, one heaven do tye
Their souls to that one God eternally."

> ^♦^ <

582 A Cloud of Witnesses.

If^a^sylN a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Anvvoth.

'^ "^ " Here lyes John Bell of Whitesyde, who was barbar-
ously shot to death in the paroch of Tongland, at the command of
Grier of Lag, Anno 1685.

" This monument shall tell posterity.
That blessed Bell of Whitesyde here doth ly ;
Who at command of bloody Lag was shot :
A murder strange which should not be forgot.
Douglas of Morton did him quarters give ;
Yet cruel Lag would not let him survive.
This martyr sought some time to recommend
His soul to God, before his days did end,
The tyrant said, ' What, devil ! ye've pray'd enough
This long seven year on mountain and in cleugh :'
So instantly caus'd him with other four,
Be shot to death upon Kirconnel moor.
So thus did end the lives of these dear saints,
For their adhering to the Covenants."

[The monument is a flat stone, five feet eight inches in length by
two feet eight inches in breadth, and is supported on six small square
pillars. It is close to the south-west corner of the old church of
Anwoth, now in ruins. The whole has evidently been renewed
within the century. — Ed.]

> ^»^ <

i^^^N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Dalry, Galloway,

Memento Mori. — " Here lyeth Robert Stewart, son to

Major Stewart of Ardoch, and John Grierson, who were murdered by
Graham of Claverhouse, Anno 1684, for their adherence to Scotland's
Reformation and Covenants, National and Solemn League, at the
Water of Dee, in Galloway, Anno 1684.

" Behold, behold ! a stone here's forc'd to cry.
Come see two martyrs, under me that ly.
At water of Dee, who ta'en were by the hands
Of cruel Claverhouse and's bloody band.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 583

No sooner had he done this horrid thing,

But's forc'd to cry, * Stewart's soul in Heaven doth sing.'

Yet strange ! his rage pursu'd ev'n such when dead,

And in the tombs of their ancestors laid ;

Causing their corps be rais'd out of the same,

Discharging in churchyard to bury them.

All this they did, ' cause they would not perjure,

Our Covenants and Reformation pure ;

Because, like faithful martyrs, for to dy

They rather chus'd, than treacherously comply

With cursed Prelacie, the nation's bane.

And with Indulgencie, our Church's stain.

Perjur'd intelligencers were so rife,

Show'd their curs'd loyalty, to take their life."

^SP'N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Kirkcudbright.

'1!

''William Hounture — Robert Smith— 1684.

" This monument shall show posterity.
Two headless martyres under it doth ly,
By bloody Gr'hame were taken and surpris'd.
Brought to this town, and afterwards were saiz'd:
By unjust law were sentenced to die,
Them first they hang'd, then headed cruely.
Captain Douglas, Bruce, Gr'hame of Claverhous,
Were these that caused them to be handled thus.
And when they were unto the gibbet come,
To stop their speech they did beat up the drum,
And all because that they would not comply
With indulgence and bloody prelacy.
In face of cruel Bruce, Douglas, and Gr'hame,
They did maintain that Christ was Lord supreme :
And boldly ouned both the Covenants :
At Kirkcudbright thus ended these two saints."

[The stone is flat ; five feet ten inches in length by two feet six
inches in breadth. — Ed.]

5 84 A Cloud of Witnesses.

|N a Stone in the Churchyard, Balmaclellan.

-' " Here lyeth Robert Grierson, who was shot to death

by command of Colonel James Douglas, at Inglestoun, in the parish
of Glencairn, anno 1685.

" This monument to passengers shall cry.
That goodly Grierson under it doth ly,
Betrayed by knavish Watson to his foes.
Which made this martyr's days by murther close.
If ye would know the nature of his crime,
Then read the story of that killing time.
When Babel's brats with hellish plots conceal'd,
Design'd to make our south their hunting-field.
Here's one of five at once were laid in dust,
To gratify Rome's execrable lust.
If carabines with molten bullets could
Have reached their souls, these mighty Nimrods would
Them have cut off"; for there could no request
Three minutes get, to pray for future rest."

[The stone lies flat, and is about five feet in length, by three in
breadth. It has recently been painted, and set up about a foot
from the ground by a zealous antiquary, the Rev. John Murray of
Balmaclellan.

Near it is a monument to the memory of a man, who, in his
time, did so much to repair and deepen the inscriptions on the
stones over the remains of the martyrs. The inscription is — " To the
memory of Robert Paterson, stone engraver, well-known as ' Old
Mortality,' who died at Bankend of Carlaverock, 14th February 1800,
aged 88." Balmaclellan was the place where the wife and family of
" Old MortaUty " lived. A monument was also erected in 1869 in
Carlaverock Churchyard over his remains, with the following inscrip-
tion— " Erected to the memory of Robert Paterson, the ' Old Mor-
tality' of Sir Walter Scott, who was buried here February 1801.

" Why seeks he with unwearied toil,

Through Death's dim walks to urge his way ;
Reclaim his long-asserted spoil,

And lead oblivion into day ?" — Ed.]

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 585

ESTDES these mottoes in verse, there are in the Stevvartry of

Kirkcudbright, in Galloway, several other monuments, both

in churchyards and open fields, the mottoes whereof are in

prose, intimating that they died for their adherence to the Covenants

and Work of Reformation.

These monuments are —

In the Churchyard, Kirkcudbright.

Memento Moi'i. — " Here lyes John Hallume, who was wounded
in his takeing, and by unjust law sentenced to be hanged. All this
done by Captain Douglas, for his adherence to Scotland's Reforma-
tion Covenants, National and Solemn League, 1685."

[The monument is an upright stone, two feet in height, by
one foot ten inches in breadth. The letters are Roman capitals,
and, like all the work of " Old Mortality," in the Stewartry, are
deeply cut. It is in the centre of the churchyard. The six in-
scriptions that follow are on stones of a similar size and form. —
Ed.]

In the Churchyard, Kirkandrews, parish of Borgue.

" Here lyes Robert M'Whae, who was barbarously shot to death
by Captain Douglas, for his adherence to Scotland's Reformation,
Covenants, National and Solemn League, 1685.

[This monument was broken, but was restored by the inhabitants
of the parish, in fac-simile, 1855. — Ed.]

In the Churchyard, Girthon.

" Within this tomb lyes the corpse of Robert Lennox, sometime
in Irelandtoun, who was shot to death by Grier of Lagg, in the paroch
of Toungland, for his adherence to Scotland's Reformation, Cove-
nants, National and Solemn League, 1685."

In the MuiR of Auchincloy, Girtlion parish.

Memetito Mori. — "Here lies Robert Ferguson, who was surprised,
and instantly shot to death on this place by Graham of Claverhouse,
for his adherence to Scotland's Covenanted Reformation, Covenants,
National and Solemn League, 1684."

586 A Cloud of Witnesses.

On KiRKCONNEL HiLL, Tongland parish.

" Here lies James Clement, who was surprised, and instantly
shot to death on this place by Grierson of Lag, for his adherence to
Scotland's Reformation, Covenants, National and Solemn League,
1685."

In the Churchyard, Kells.

" Here lyes Adam Macwhan, who, being sick of a fever, was
taken out of his bed, and carried to Newtown of Galloway, and next
day most cruelly and unjustly shot to death by the command of Lieu-
tenant-General James Douglas, brother to the Duke of Queensberry,
for his adherence to Scotland's Reformation, Covenants, National
and Solemn League, 1685.

'* The above stone, erected to the memory of Adam Macwhan,
was placed in this granite monument, a.d., 1832. The expense
defrayed by the inhabitants of Kells, after sermon by the Rev. James
Maitland, minister of the parish."

[This monument is in the centre of the churchyard, and is one of
the most striking in the Stewartry. The frame is of granite
and the old stone is so placed in it, that it can be read on both
sides. — Ed.]

In the Churchyard, Crossmichael.

Memento Mori. — " Here lyes William Graham, who, making his
escape from his mother's house, was pursued and taken, and instantly
shot dead by a party of Claverhouse's troop, for his adherence to
Scotland's Reformation, Covenants, National and Solemn League,
1682."

> *♦•» <

IN a Stone in the Churchyard, Ayr.

" Here lie the corpse of James Smith, Alexander
M'Millan, James M'Millan, John Short, George M'Kertny, John
Graham, and John Muirhead, wlio suffered martyrdom at Air, 27th
December 1666, for their adherence to the Word of God, and
Scotland's Covenanted Work of Reformation.

Epitaphs or Inscripliom,. 587

" This small tribute to the above was done by the Incorporate
Trades of Air, Anno Domonie, 181 4. For the righteous shall be
keept in everlasting rememberance."

" Here ly seven martyrs for our Covenants,
A sacred number of triumphant saints,
Pontius M'Adam th' unjust sentence passed :
What is his own the world shall know at last.
And Herod Drummond caus'd their heads affix ;
Heav'n keeps a record of the sixty-six.
Boots, thumbkins, gibbets, were in fashion then ;
Lord, let us never see such days again."

[Nothing seems now to be known of these seven martyrs, save
that they were at Pentland, and were condemned to death at Ayr.
The hangman at Ayr disappeared, and was not to be found when the
day of execution came. William Sutherland, a Highlander, and the
hangman in Irvine, was by force brought to Ayr, but neither by fair
means nor foul would he be persuaded to act as executioner, and was
kept in prison for many weeks. His declaration, written after he
was set free, is one of the most interesting papers in Wodrow. A
Cornelius Anderson, who had been condemned with the seven,
was at last prevailed, on promise of free pardon, to act as execu-
tioner.— Ed.]

gp^'^jN a Stone lying beside the Gallows of Ayr.

[The compilers preface the eight lines of rhyme by the
introductory words, " Upon a stone lying beside the Gallows of Air,
upon the body of Andrew M'Gill, who was apprehended by the
information of Andrew Tom, who suffered there, November ,
1684.— Ed.]

" Near this abhorred tree a suflerer lies,
Who chus'd to fall that falling truth might rise.
His station could advance no costly deed,
Save giving of a life the Lord had need.

588 A Cloud of Witnesses.

When Christ shall vindicate His way, He'll cast
The doom that was pronounc'd in such a haste,
And incorruption shall forget disgrace,
Design'd by the interment in this place."

[This monument is the only one that we have been unable to
find. The gallows stood near the present railway station. Wodrow
mentions M'Gill's apprehension and execution. — Ed.]

> ♦♦* <

r^N a Stone at Mauchline.

" Here lies the bodies of Peter Gillies, John Bryce,
Thomas Young, William Fiddison, and John Bruning, who were
apprehended and hanged without trial at Mauchline, anno 1685,
according to the then wicked laws, for their adherence to the Cove-
nanted Work of Reformation. Rev. xii. 11.

" Bloody Dumbarton, Douglas, and Dundee,
Mov'd by the Devil and the Laird of Lee,
Dragg'd these five men to death with gun and sword,
Not suffering them to pray nor read God's Word,
Ouning the Work of God was all their crime.
The Eighty-five was a saint killing lime.

" Erected by subscription in 1830. The old decayed tombstone,
from which the above inscription is copied, lies below."

[The present monument is a flat stone, twelve feet by six, and is
situated on a small common on the outskirts of the town of Mauch-
line.— Ed.1

^^N a Tombstone in the Churchyard, Irvine.

" Stop, passenger, thou treadest near two martyrs, James
Blackwood and John M'Coul, who suffered at Irvine on the 31st of
December 1666. Rev. xii. 11.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 589

" These honest countrymen whose bones here lie,
A victim fell to Prelates' cruelty ;
Condemn'd by bloody and unrighteous laws,
They died as martyrs for the good old cause,
Which Balaam's wicked race in vainassail.
For no enchantments 'gainst Israel prevail.
Life and this evil world they did contemn.
And died for Christ, who died first for them."

[Little else is known of James Blackwood and John M'Coul than
that they were taken prisoners at Pendand, and that they died full of
joy and courage, to the admiration of all who were witnesses. The
following has been added to the original verses when the stone was
restored. — Ed.]

" They lived unknown,
Till persecution dragged them into fame,
And chas'd them up to heaven."

" Erected by friends to religious liberty, 31st December 1823."

> •♦♦^ <■

(^^ps^jN a Stone in the Churchyard, Kilmarnock.

" Here lie the heads of John Ross and John Shields,
who suffered at Edinburgh, December 27th, 1666, and had their
heads set up at Kilmarnock."

" Our persecutors mad with wrath and ire ;
In Edinburgh members some do lie, some here ;
Yet instantly united they shall be,
And witness 'gainst this nation's perjury."

[John Ross belonged to Mauchline. He joined the rising that
ended at Pendand, but was taken prisoner a week previous to the
battle. John Shields was a tenant in Titwood, a farm in the parish
of Mearns, Renfrewshire. He was taken along with John Ross.
They were tried at the same time with the martyrs whose heads are

590 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

at Hamilton, and received a similar sentence. "Naphtali" contains a
testimony by John Shields. It is very much shorter than most of
the testimonies issued by the martyrs, but it is happily expressed.
The monument is an upright stone, and stands on the north side of
the church, in the Laigh Kirk burying-ground. — Ed.]

^ '1

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Kilmarnock.

" Here lies John Nisbet, who was taken by Major Bal-
four's party, and suffered at Kilmarnock, 4th April 1683, for adhering
to the Word of God and our Covenants. Rev. xii. and 1 1. Renewed
by public contribution, a.d. 1823.

" Come, reader, see, here pleasant Nisbet lies ;
His blood doth pierce the high and lofty skies ;
Kilmarnoc did his latter hour perceive ;
And Christ his soul to heaven did receive.
Yet bloody Torrans did his body raise,
And buried it into another place ;
Saying, ' Shall rebels ly in graves with me ?
We'll bury him where evil doers be.' "

[The stone is near that to John Ross and John Shields. It is an
upright stone, four feet in height by three in breadth.— Ed.]

> ^f^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Fenwick.

" Here lies the dust of John Fergushill and George
Woodburn, who were shot at Midkmd by Nisbet and his party, 1685.

" When bloody prelates, once this nation's pest,
Contriv'd that curs'd self-contradicting test ;
These men for Christ did sutler martyrdom,
A.nd here their blood lies waiting till He come."

"Renewed by subscription, 1829."

Epitaphs or Inscriptions.

591

FENWICK CHURCHYARD.

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Fenwick.

" Here lies the corps of Peter Gemmel, who was shot to
death by Nisbet and his party, 1685, for bearing his faithful testi-
mony to the cause of Christ, aged 21 years.

" This man, like holy Anchorites of old,
For conscience' sake, was thrust from house and hold ;
Blood-thirsty red-coats cut his prayers short.
And ev'n his dying groans were made their sport.
Ah Scotland ! Breach of solemn vows repent ;
Or bloody crimes will bring thy punishment."

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Fenwick.

" Here lies the body of James White, who was shot to
death at Little Blackwood by Peter Inglis and his party, 1685. Re-
newed by subscription, 1822.

592

A Cloud of Witnesses.

This martyr was by Peter Inglis shot,

By birth a tiger, rather than a Scot,

Who, that his monstrous extract might be seen.

Cut off his head, and kick'd it o'er the green.

Thus was that head, which was to wear the crown,

A football made by a profane dragoon."

> ^»^ <

HE above inscriptions comprise all those given in the First
Edition ; those which next follow were added in the Third
and Fourth Editions. — Ed.]

1!^

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Wigtown.

"Here lies Margrat Wills on, daughter of Gilbert Willson
in Glenvernoch, who was drowned, anno 1685, aged 18."

^..U.MENT AT STIRLINC TO THE WIGTCW N IJ ^RTV b

Epitaphs or Inscriptio7is. 593

" Let earth and stone still witness beare
There lyes a virgine martyr here :
Murther'd for owning Christ supreme,
Head of His Church, and no more crime,
But not abjuring Presbytery,
And her not owning Prelacy,
They her condemned by unjust law,
Of heaven nor hell they stood no awe.
Within the sea, ty'd to a stake.
She suffered for Christ Jesus sake.
The actors of this cruel crime.
Was Lagg, Strachan, Winram, and Gr'hame,
Neither young years, nor yet old age,
Could quench the fury of their rage."

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Colmonell.

I, Matthew M'Ilwraith :

In this parish of Colmonel,

By bloody Claverhouse I fell.

Who did command that I should die,

For owning Covenanted Presbytery.

My blood, a witness still doth stand

'Gainst all defections in this land."

> ^♦^ <

P^^PIN a Stone in the Churchyard, Straiton.
^^ " Here lyes Thomas M'Haffie, martyr, 1686=

" Tho' I was sick, and like to die.
Yet bloody Bruce did murder me ;
'Cause I adhered in my station.
To our covenanted Reformation.
My blood for vengeance yet doth call,
Upon Zion's haters all."

594 ^ Cloud of Witnesses.

[The original stone is somewhat small — two feet by one foot and
eight inches. Close by it is a stone twice its size, to which the in-
scription has been transferred, with the addition — *' This stone was
erected by subscription in the year 1824." — Ed.]

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Tweedsmuir.

" Here lies the body of John Hunter, who was shot at
Corehead by Colonel James Douglas, 1685.

" When Zion's King was robbed of his right,
His witnesses in Scotland put to flight ;
When Popish Prelates and Indulgencie,
Combin'd 'gainst Christ to ruin Presbytrie.
All who would not unto their idols bow,
They socht them out, and whom they found they slew.
For owning of Christ's cause I then did die,
My blood for vengeance on His en'mies did cry."

[A few yards in front of the entrance to the parish church is an
obelisk, eight or nine feet in height, with the inscription — " In
memory of John Hunter, Martyr, whose gravestone is in the lower part
of this churchyard, 1837. The old stone was erected in 1726." — Ed.]

> •♦♦♦ <

^^N a Gravestone at Magus Muir.

-^ [The compilers of the " Cloud " prefix the following

introductory sentence — " Upon the gravestone of Thomas Brown,
James Wood, Andrew Sword, John Waddel, and John Clyd, who
suffer'd martyrdom at Magus Muir, November 25, 1679, ''^"<' ^Y
buried in a corn-field near Magus Muir, is this inscription." — Ed.]

" 'Cause we at Bothwel did appear,
Perjurious oaths refused to swear ;
'Cause we Christ's cause would not condemn,
We were sentenc'd to death by men ;

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 595

Who raged against us in such fury,
Our dead bodies they did not bury,
But up on poles did hing us high,
Triumphs of Babel's victory.
Our lives w^e fear'd not to the death,
But constant prov'd to the last breath."

(When the Gravestone was set up in October 1728, the chains
were taken out of their graves, and some of their bones and clothes
were found unconsumed, now forty-seven years after their death. —
Note by the compiler of Third Edition.)

[Thomas Brown was a shoemaker in Edinburgh ; James Wood
belonged to Newmilns ; Andrew Sword was a weaver in Galloway ;
John Waddell belonged to New Monkland; John Clyde to East
Kilbride. They had no connection with the death of Archbishop
Sharp, but had been at the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and had refused
to take the Bond. They were tried at Edinburgh, November 10, and
were found guilty of being in arms at Bothwell, and sentenced to be
hanged at Magus Muir, and their bodies to be hung in chains till
they rot. Their testimonies and an account of their words at the
scaffold occupy forty pages in the Appendix to " Naphtali."

Magus Muir is about three miles to the west of St Andrews, and
a mile to the south of the village of Strathkinness. The spot where
the five martyrs suffered, and where the archbishop found his death,
is about a quarter a-mile from the turnpike road on the ridge of the
high ground, and is an oblong, unploughed, of about nine paces by
five in the middle of the field. It is easily distinguished from the
ground around. The stone to the memory of the martyrs was in
existence thirty years ago, but got broken, and has been carried away
by visitors piece by piece until all that remains of it is a fragment of
a few inches square, which, when we visited the district in August
187 1, we found the farmer at Clermont Cross had taken away for
safety and laid down at his front door. A few letters, but no words
complete, were all that could be deciphered. It is to be hoped
that steps will soon be taken to put up a new stone. — Ed.]

> — ♦^ <

59^ A Cloud of Witnesses.

N a Gravestone at Magus Muir.

" The gravestone of Andrew Gullon, who suffered at
the Gallowlee of Edinburgh, July 1683, and afterwards was hung
upon a pole iii Magus Muir, and lyeth here.

" A faithful martyr here doth ly,
A witness against perjury,
Who cruelly was put to death,
To gratify proud Prelates' wrath.
They cut his hands ere he was dead,
And after that struck off his head ;
To Magus Muir they did him bring,
His body on a pole did hing ;
His blood under the altar cries,
For vengeance on Christ's enemies."

[This stone is an upright one, and is situated in the centre of a
small enclosure, planted with trees, a few yards to the west of the
farm-house at Clermont Cross, about half a mile to the south-east of
Magus Muir. The lettering on the stone is in italics, and very
different from all the other monuments we have visited; it is so shal-
low as to be little better than scratched. Robert Paterson (Old
Mortality), when he went to Dunottar, where Sir Walter Scott first met
him, must have passed it by. Possibly he had his doubts about
Andrew Guilline, because concerned in the death of Archbishop
Sharp. — Ed.]

rjIN a Gravestone at Rullion Green.

" Here and near to this place lyes the Reverend Mr
John Crookshank and Mr Andrew M'Cormick, ministers of the
Gospel, and about fifty other true covenanted Presbyterians, who
were killed in this place in their own innocent self-defence, and
defence of the covenanted work of Reformation, by Thomas Dalziel

Epitaphs or Inscriptions.

597

Rl'l.LION GREEN.

of Bins, upon the 28th of November 1666. Rev. 12-11. Erected
Sept. 28, 1738.

.ih.M .ME.sT AT BULLION GREEN.

598 A Cloud of Witnesses.

" A Cloud of Witnesses lyes here,
Who for Christ's interest did appear,
For to restore true liberty
Overturned then by tyranny,
And by proud Prelates, who did rage
Against the Lord's own heritage.
They sacrificed were for the laws
Of Christ their king, His noble cause ;
These heroes fought with great renown.
By falling got the martyr's crown."

[RuUion Green lies on the south side of the Pentland Hills. It is
best approached by the road from Edinburgh to Carlops — about a
quarter a-mile past the seven mile-stone. The monument is about
quarter a-mile from the road upon the hill. It is an upright stone,
and was carefully railed in some years ago at the expense of the pro-
prietor of the ground, the Right Honourable John Inghs, Lord
President of the Court of Session.]

> •♦♦^ <

N a Gravestone near the Cross-Water of Dusk, in Colmonell
parish.

" Here lies John Murchie and Daniel MTlwraith, martyrs. By
bloody Drummond they were shot. 1685.

" Here in this place two martyrs ly,
Whose blood to heaven hath a loud cry,
Murder'd contrary to Divine laws
For owning of King Jesus' cause.
By bloody Drummond they were shot,
Without any trial near this spot.

*' Renewed by Gilbert MTh\Tailh in Alticonnach."

[A new monument was erected in 1825, and the old inscription
transferred to it.— Ed.]

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 599

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Muirkirk.

" Here lyes John Smith, who was shot by Col. Buchan
an' the laird of Lee, February , 1685, for his adherence to the
Word of God, and Scotland's Covenanted work of Reformation.
Rev. xii. 11. Erected in the year 1731.

"When proud apostates did abjure,
Scotland's Reformation pure,
And fill'd the land with perjury,
And all sorts of iniquity.
Such as would not with them comply,
They persecute with hue and cry,
I in the fight was overtane,
And for the truth by them was slain."

[The stone is an upright one, of small size. Part of it is
broken off. — Ed.]

N a Gravestone, in a Kailyard, Newmilns.

"Renewed in 1822. Here lies John Law, v/ho was
shot at Newmills, at the relieving of eight of Christ's prisoners, who
were taken at a meeting for prayer at Little Blackwood, in the
parish of Kilmarnock, in April 1685, by Captain Inglis and his party,
for their adherence to the Word of God, and Scotland's Covenanted
Work of Reformation."

" Cause I Christ's prisoners reliev'd,
I of my life was soon bereav'd,
By cruel enemies with rage,
In that rencounter did engage,
The Martyr's honour and his crown,
Bestow'd on me, O high renown.
That I should nob only believe,
But for Christ's cause my life should give."

[The " kailyard " is behind a house on the main street, nearly
opposite to the Parish Church. — Ed.]

6oo A Cloud of Witnesses.

ap^-^jN a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Strathaven.

"Erected in the year 1732. Heare lys the corps of
WilHam Dingwall, who was shot in a rancounter at Drumclog, June
I St, 1679, by bloody Grahm of Claverhouse, for adhearing to the
Word of God, and Scotland's Covenanted Work of Reformation.

" This hero brave who here doth ly
Was persecute by tyranny,
Yet to the truth he firmly stood,
'Gainst foes resisting to the blood.
Himself and th' Gospel did defend,
Till for Christ's cause his life did end."

> ■^♦^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Stonehouse.

" Here lays, or near this, James Thomson, who was
shot in a rancounter at Drumclog, June ist, 1679, by bloody Graham
of Clavershouse, for his adherence to the Word of God, and Scot-
land's Covenanted Work of Reformation. Rev. xii. 1 1.

" This hero brave who doth ly here,
In truth's defence he did appear.
And to Christ's cause he firmly stood,
Until he seal'd it with his blood.
With sword in hand upon the field,
He lost his life, yet did not yield.
His days did end in great renown,
And he obtain'd the martyr's crown.*

'N a Stone in the Churchyard, Dron.

" Here Ives the Reverend Mr John Welwood, minister
of the Gospel in the Church of Scotland, who dyed at Perth, Aprile
1679, about the 30th year of his age.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 60 1

" Here lies a follower of the Lamb,
Thro' many tribulations came.
For long time of his Christian race
Was persecute from place to place.
A Scottish prophet here behold,
Judgment and mercy who foretold ;
The Gospel banner did display,
Condemn'd the sins of that sad day,
And valiantly for truth contended,
Until by death his days were ended."

N a Stone in the Churchyard, St Andrews.

" Here lyes the Reverend Mr Samuell Rutherfoord
Professor of Divinity in the University of St Andrews, who died
March 20, 1661.

" What tongue, what pen, or skill of men,
Can famous Rutherfoord commend ?
His learning justly rais'd his fame,
True godliness adorn'd his name.
He did converse with things above,
Acquainted with Emmanuel's love.
Most orthodox he was and sound,
And many errors did confound.
For Zion's king and Zion's cause
And Scotland's Covenanted laws ;
Most constantly he did contend.
Until his time was at an end.
Then he wan to the full fruition.
Of that which he had seen in vision."

{October gth, 1735. By W. Witson.)

(The famous Mr Samuel Rutherford, who was cited before that
Parliament, which rescinded the Covenanted work of Reformation, to
appear before them when he was in a dying condition ; being soon
after that called to answer at that tribunal, where his Judge was his
friend : though he did not actually suffer martyrdom, being called
home to the joy of his Lord before his persecutors got their wicked

602

A Cloud of Witnesses.

devices put in execution against him \ yet since he was a martyr,
both in his enemies' design and his own resolution, the epitaph upon
his gravestone, done above seventy-four years after he died, by a true
lover of his memory and owner of the honourable Covenanted cause
which he faithfully contended and suffered for, deserveth a room
here among martyrs' epitaphs. — Note in the Fourth Edition.)

CHLRCHYAKD OF ST ANDREWS.

HE following inscriptions have now been added for the first
time. — Ed.]

^N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Dunottar.

" Here lyes John Stot, James Aitchison, James Russel,
and William Broun, and one whose name we have not gotten, and
two women whose names also we know not, and two who perished
coming down the rock, one whose name was James Watson, the
other not known, who all died prisoners in Dunottar Castle, anno

Epitaphs or Inscriptions.

6o'

1685, for their adherence to the Word of God and Scotland's Cove-
nanted work of Reformation. Rev. xith ch., 12th verse."

DUNOTTAR CASTLE.

^^PIN a Gravestone in a Churchyard near Bathgate.

'^4<V

" Here lies the body of James Davie, who was shot at
Blackdale, April 1673, by Heron, for his adhering to the Word of
God and Scotland's Covenanted work of Reformation, in opposition
to Popery, Prelacy, Perjury, and Tyranny."

-^-•>-*--<^

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Galston,

" Here lies Andrew Richmond, who was killed by
bloody Graham of Claverhouse, June 1679, for his adherence to the
Word of God and Scotland's Covenanted work of Reformation.

" When bloody tyrants here did rage
Over the Lord's own heritage,

6o4 A Cloud of Witnesses.

To persecute His noble cause
By mischief framed into laws,
'Cause I the Gospel did defend.
By martyrdom my life did end.

" Renewed in 1823."

[The stone is an upright one, and stands to the south of the
church. Besides the inscription, it has sculptured on it, in basso
relievo, an open Bible, a man with a soldier pointing a gun at him.
and a figure of the Galston Covenanter's flag. — Ed.]

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Galston.

" In memory of John Richmond, younger of Knowe,
who was executed at the Cross of Glasgow, March 19th, 1684, and
interred in the High Churchyard there. And James Smith, East
Threepwood, who was shot near Bank of Burn Ann by Captain
Inglis and his dragoons, and buried there. Also James Young and
George Campbell, who were banished in 1679. ^^'^ the Rev.
Alexander Blair, who suffered imprisonment 1673."

> ■^♦^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Loudon.

" Here lies Thomas Flemming of Loudon Hill, who, for
his appearing in arms in his own defence and in defence of the Gospel,
according to the obhgations of our National Covenants, and agreeable
to the Word of God, was shot in a rencounter at Drumclog, June ist,
1679, by bloody Graham of Claverhouse."

> ^ »^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Campsie.

" Erected in memory of "William Boik, who suffered at
Glasgow, June 14, 1683, for his adherence to the Word of God and
Scotland's Covenanted Work of Reformation.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 605

" Underneath this stone doth lie
Dust sacrificed to tyranny,
Yet precious in Immanuel's sight,
Since martyr'd for his kingly right.

"Rev. chap. 7, verse 14."

N a Monument in the Churchyard, Glassford.

" To the memory of the very worthy pillar of the Church,
Mr William Gordon of Earlslon in Galloway, shot by a party of
dragoons on his way to Bothwell Bridge, 22 June 1679, ^g^^ 65. In
scribed by his great grandson, Sir John Gordon, Bart, 11 June 1772.

" Silent till now full ninety years hath stood
This humble monument of guiltless blood.
Tyrannic sway forbad his fate to name,
Least his known worth should prove the tyrant's shame.
On Bothwell road, with love of freedom fir'd,
The tyrant's minions boldly him requir'd
To stop and yield, or it his life would cost.
This he disdain'd, not knowing all was lost.
On which they fir'd. Heaven so decreed his doonij
Far from his own laid in this silent tomb.
How leagu'd with patriots to maintain the cause
Of true religious liberty and laws.
How learn'd, how soft his manner, free from pride,
How clear his judgment, and how he lived and died,
They well could tell who weeping round him stood
On Strevan plains that drank his patriot blood."

" Repaired by Sir John Gordon, Bart, of Earlston, his represen-
tative, 1842.

" If a hard fate demands,
Or claims a tear,
Stay, gentle passenger,
And shed it here."

ooo

A Cloud of Pk'iluesses.

MONUMENT AT WIGTOWN TO THE WIGTOWN MARTYRS.

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Wigtown.

Memento Mori. — " Here lies Margaret Lachlane, who
was by unjust law sentenced to dye by Lagg, surnamed Grier,
Strachane, Winram, and Grame, and tyed to a stake within the flood
for her adherence to Scotland's Reformation Covenants, National
and Solemn League, aged 63, 1685."

[The stone is an upright one, and similar in size and form to those
in Galloway that have simply a prose inscription. — Ed.]

> ■♦♦^ <

■"^?^N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Wigtown,

\'':^L£ii\ u Here lys William Johnston, John Milroy, and George

Walker, who was, without sentence of law, hanged by Major Winram,
for their adherence to Scotland's Reformation Covenants, National
and Solemn League, 1685."

Epitaphs or Inscriptions.

607

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Wigtown.

" Here lyes the body of Alexander Linn, who was sur-
prised and instantly shot to death by Lieutenant-General Drummond
for his adherence to Scotland's Reformation Covenants, National
and Solemn League, 1685."

|[,y^|i|j|N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Balmaghie.

Memento Mori. — " Here lyes George Short, who was pur-

sued and taken, and instantly shot to death under cloud of night, in
the paroch of Tongueland, by Grier of Lag and the Earle of Annan-
dale, because of his adherence to Scotland's Reformation Covenants,
National and Solemn League, 1685."

[The stone is upright, and is three feet in height by two feet in
breadth. — Ed.]

> •^♦^ <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Tarbolton.

" Here lys William Shillilaw, who was shot at Woodhead
by Lieut. Lauder for his adherence to the Word of God and Scot-
land's Covenanted work of Reformation."

[The stone is an upright one, and stands close to the east side of
the steeple. — Ed.]

> ^^^ <

N a Gravestone at Mid Wellwood, parish of Muirkirk.

" Here lyes William Adam, Who was shot in this place
by Captain Dalzeal and his party for his adherence to the Word of
God and Scotland's Covenanted work of Reformation."

> ^♦a* <

6o8 A Cloud of Witnesses.

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Twynholm.

Memento Mori. — " Here lyes Andrew M 'Robert, who
was surprised and shot to death in the parish of Tongueland, by
Grier of Lagg, for his adherence to Scotland's Reformation Covenants,
National and Solemn League, 1685."

> "*♦*» <

N a Gravestone in the Churchyard, Kells.

" Here lyes the corpse of Roger Gordon of Largmore
who dyed March 2, 1662, aged 72 years; and of John Gordon of
Largmore, his grandchild, who dyed January 6, 1667, of his wounds
got at Pentland in defence of the Covenanted Reformation."

> •^♦^— ^

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Old Cumnock.

"Here lies the corpse of Thomas Richard, who was
shot by Colonel James Douglas, for his adherence to the Covenanted
Work of Reformation, on the 5th day of April, anno 1685.

" Halt passenger ! this stone doth show to thee
For what, by whom, and how I here did die,
Because I always in my station
Adhered to Scotland's Reformation
And to our Sacred Covenants and laws,
Establishing the same, which was the cause,
In time of prayer, I was by Douglas shot,
Ah ! cruelty never to be forgot."

> — t^ <

pST-N a Stone in the Churchyard, Old Cumnock.

" Here lyes David Dun and Simon Paterson, who was
shot in this place by a party of Highlanders, for ther adhearance to
the Word of God and the Covenanted Work of Reformation, 1685."

Epitaphs 07' Inscriptions. 609

«^^N a Stone in the Churchyard, Old Cumnock.

" Here lies Mr Alexander Peden, faithful minister of
the Gospel, sometime of Glenluce, who departed this mortal life the
26th of January 1686, and was raised after six weeks out of the
grave and buried here out of contempt.

" Memento Mori."

[The remains of Alexander Peden were first laid in the aisle of
Lord Auchinleck, but were disinterred by a body of dragoons, in
order to hang them on the gallows. At the entreaty, however, of the
Countess of Dumfries, they were induced to depart from their pur-
[^ose, and the corpse was laid alongside those of the martyrs at the
Gallowsfoot of Old Cumnock. — Ed.]

>^^»^ <

X a Stone at the Caldons, Loch Trool, Kirkcudbright-
shire.

" Here lyes James and Robert Duns, Thomas and John Steven-
sons, James M'Clude, Andrew M'Call, who were surprised at prayer
in this house by Colonel Douglas, Lieutenant Livingstone, and
Cornet James Douglas, and by them most impiously and cruelly
murther'd for their adherence to Scotland's Reformation Covenants,
National and Solemn League. 1685.

" In memory of six martyrs who suffered at this spot for their
attachment to the Covenanted cause of Christ in Scotland. January
23, 1685.

" Erected by the voluntary contributions of a congregation who
waited on the ministrations of the Rev. Gavin Rowatt of Whitehom,
Lord's Day, 19th August 1827."

[This tomb stands in a lonely march near the little water of Trool
shortly after it leaves the loch of that name. The site of the old farm-
house of Caldons (or Caldunes), where the martyrs were taken and
put to death, is supposed to be marked by a shapeless heap of stones,
which has once been a cairn. The present monument is close beside
it, and consists of a strong plain wall about four feet high, forming
a square enclosure (ten feet square or thereabouts), within which

6 1 o A Cloud of Witnesses.

stands the little grey tombstone with its plainly legible inscription,
bearing marks of the pious care of " Old Mortality." The modern
enclosing wall has a slab of red sandstone let into its inner side
(S.W.). On it stands the inscription of 1827. — Ed.]

> ^4^ <

N a Stone in the Churchyard, Cupar Fife,

" Here lyes interred the heads of Laurance Hay and
Andrew PituUoch, who suffered martyrdom at Edinburgh, July 13th,
1 681, for adhering to the word of God and Scotland's Covenanted
work of Reformation. And also one of the hands of David Hack-
ston of Rathillet, who was most cruelly murdered at Edinburgh
July 30th, 1680, for the same cause.

" Our persecutors fiU'd with rage.
Their brutish fury to aswage.
Took heads and hands of martyrs off
That they might be the people's scoff.
They Hackston's body cut asunder,
And set it up a world's wonder,
In several places to proclaim,
These monsters glory'd in their shame."
Re-erected, July 13th, 1792.

[The stone has recently been raised upon a new base, and is in
a good state of preservation. — Ed.]

N a Monument in the Churchyard, Fenwick.

" Sacred to the memory of Captain John Paton, late in
Meadowhead, of this parish, who suffered martyrdom in the Grass,-
market, Edinburgh, May 9th 1684.

" He was an honour to his country; on the Continent, at Pentland,
Drumclog, and Bothwell, his heroic conduct truly evinced the gallant
officer, brave soldier, and true patriot. In social and domestic life,
he was an ornament, a pious Christian, and a faithful witness for truth.

Epitaphs or Inscriptions. 6 1 1

in opposition to the encroachments of tyrannical and despotic power
in Church and State.

" Who Antichrist do thus oppose,
And for truth's cause their Hves lay do\\Ti,
Will get the victory o'er their foes,
And gain life's everlasting crown,

"The mortal remains of Captain Paton sleep amid the dust of
kindred martyrs in the Greyfriars' Churchyard, Edinburgh.

" Near this is the burying place of his family and descendants."

> •^►♦^ <

N a Monument at Moniaive.

" In memory of the late Rev. James Renwick, the last
who suffered to death for attachment to the Covenanted Cause of
Christ in Scotland — born near this spot, 15th February 1662, and
executed at the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, 17th February 1688.

" ' The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.' Erected
by subscription, a.d. 1828."

a Stone in the Churchyard, North Berwick.

" Here lies the body of Mr John Blackader, minister of
the Gospel at Troqueer in Galloway, who died on the Bass, after
five years imprisonment, anno dom 1685, and of his age sixty-three
years.

" Blest John, for Jesus' sake in Patmos bound,
His prison Bethel, Patmos, Pisgah found ;
So the bless'd John, on yonder rock confined.
His body suffer'd, but no chains could bind
His heaven-aspiring soul ; while day by day,
As from Mount Pisgah's top, he did survey
The promised land, and view'd the crown by faith
Laid up for those who faithful are till death.

6l2

A Cloud of Witnesses.

Grace formed him in the Christian Hero's mould,
Meek in his own concerns — in's Master's bold ;
Passions to reason chained, Prudence did lead —
Zeal warm'd his breast, and reason cool'd his head.
Five years on the lone rock, yet sweet abode,
He Enoch-like enjoyed, and walk'd with God ;
Till, by long living on this heavenly food.
His soul by love grew up too great, too good
To be confined to jail, or flesh or blood.
Death broke his fetters off, then swift he fled
From sin and sorrow, and by angels led,
Enter'd the mansions of eternal joy ; —
Blest soul, thy Avarfare's done, praise, love, enjoy.
His dust here rests till Jesus come again —
Even so, blest Jesus come, — come Lord. Amen !''

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Full text of "A cloud of witnesses, for the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ : being the last speeches and testimonies of those who have suffered for the truth in Scotland, since the year 1680"

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